Terminal apparatus, base station apparatus, and communication method

ABSTRACT

A user equipment (UE) includes reception circuitry configured to receive, from a base station, first information indicating a slot format and second information indicating a maximum number of PDCCH repetition, and to monitor, based on the second information, PDCCH repetitions for a first search space set in a first CORESET, and processing circuitry configured to determine, based on the first information, whether to omit monitoring a PDCCH repetition for each PDCCH repetition among the PDCCH repetitions, wherein Downlink Control Information (DCI) is carried by the PDCCH repetition, the DCI schedules a PDSCH, and the DCI includes third information indicating a first number and forth information indicating timing of the PDSCH, and to determine, based on the third information, a first slot in which the last one PDCCH repetition of the PDCCH repetitions with the first number is located, and to determine a starting slot of a PDSCH transmission based on the forth information and the first slot.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a terminal apparatus, a base stationapparatus, a communication method, and an integrated circuit.

BACKGROUND ART

At present, as a radio access system and a radio network technologyaimed for the fifth generation cellular system, technical investigationand standard development are being conducted, as extended standards ofLong Term Evolution (LTE), on LTE-Advanced Pro (LTE-A Pro) and New Radiotechnology (NR) in The Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP).

In the fifth generation cellular system, three services of enhancedMobile BroadBand (eMBB) to achieve high-speed and large-volumetransmission, Ultra-Reliable and Low Latency Communication (URLLC) toachieve low-latency and high-reliability communication, and massiveMachine Type Communication (mMTC) to allow connection of a large numberof machine type devices such as Internet of Things (IoT) have beendemanded as assumed scenarios.

For example, wireless communication devices may communicate with one ormore devices for multiple service types. For some device types, a lowercomplexity would be required such as to reduce the Rx/Tx antennas and/orthe RF bandwidth to reduce the UE complexity and the UE cost. However,given the reduced antennas and/or the bandwidth, the PDCCH/PDSCH channelcoverage and the PDCCH/PDSCH reception reliability would be affected andcause an inefficient communication. As illustrated by this discussion,systems and methods according to the prevent invention, supportingflexible PDCCH repetition, may improve reception/transmissionreliability and coverage, and provide the communication flexibility andefficiency.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating one configuration of one or morebase stations and one or more user equipments (UEs) in which systems andmethods for determining PDCCH repetition and PDSCH transmission may beimplemented;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating one example 200 of REG and CCE resourcenumbering for a CORESET;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating one example 300 how to determine PDCCHmonitoring occasions for PDCCH candidates based on corresponding searchspace set configuration and CORESET configuration;

FIG. 4 illustrates one example 400 for determining PDCCH repetition andPDSCH transmission by a UE 102;

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrates some examples 500-1 and 500-2 of mapping ofPDCCH repetition field values to a PDCCH repetition number correspondingto a maximum number of PDCCH repetition;

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating one implementation of a method 600for determining PDCCH repetition and a starting slot of a PDSCHtransmission received by a UE 102;

FIG. 7 illustrates various components that may be utilized in a UE;

FIG. 8 illustrates various components that may be utilized in a basestation;

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

A method by a user equipment (UE) is described. The method includesreceiving, from a base station, first information indicating a slotformat and second information indicating a maximum number of PDCCHrepetition, and monitoring, based on the second information, PDCCHrepetitions for a first search space set in a first CORESET, anddetermining, based on the first information, whether to omit monitoringa PDCCH repetition for each PDCCH repetition among the PDCCHrepetitions, wherein Downlink Control Information (DCI) is carried bythe PDCCH repetition, the DCI schedules a PDSCH, and the DCI includesthird information indicating a first number and forth informationindicating timing of the PDSCH, determining, based on the thirdinformation, a first slot in which the last one PDCCH repetition of thePDCCH repetitions with the first number is located, and determining astarting slot of a PDSCH transmission based on the forth information andthe first slot.

A method by a base station is described. The method includestransmitting, to a user equipment (UE), first information indicating aslot format and second information indicating a maximum number of PDCCHrepetition, determining Downlink Control Information (DCI) wherein theDCI schedules a PDSCH, and the DCI includes third information indicatinga first number and forth information indicating timing of the PDSCH, anddetermining, based on the third information, a first slot in which thelast one PDCCH repetition of the PDCCH repetitions with the first numberis located, determining a starting slot of a PDSCH transmission based onthe forth information and the first slot, determining, based on thefirst information, whether to omit transmitting a PDCCH repetition forPDCCH repetitions with the first number, repeatedly transmitting, to theUE, PDCCH transmission with the first number for a first search spaceset in a first CORESET wherein the PDCCH repetitions carried the DCI.

A user equipment (UE) is described. The UE includes reception circuitryconfigured to receive, from a base station, first information indicatinga slot format and second information indicating a maximum number ofPDCCH repetition, and to monitor, based on the second information, PDCCHrepetitions for a first search space set in a first CORESET, andprocessing circuitry configured to determine, based on the firstinformation, whether to omit monitoring a PDCCH repetition for eachPDCCH repetition among the PDCCH repetitions, wherein Downlink ControlInformation (DCI) is carried by the PDCCH repetition, the DCI schedulesa PDSCH, and the DCI includes third information indicating a firstnumber and forth information indicating timing of the PDSCH, and todetermine, based on the third information, a first slot in which thelast one PDCCH repetition of the PDCCH repetitions with the first numberis located, and to determine a starting slot of a PDSCH transmissionbased on the forth information and the first slot.

A base station is described. The base station includes transmissioncircuitry configured to transmit, to a user equipment (UE), firstinformation indicating a slot format and second information indicating amaximum number of PDCCH repetition, processing circuitry configured todetermine Downlink Control Information (DCI) wherein the DCI schedules aPDSCH, and the DCI includes third information indicating a first numberand forth information indicating timing of the PDSCH, and to determine,based on the third information, a first slot in which the last one PDCCHrepetition of the PDCCH repetitions with the first number is located, todetermine a starting slot of a PDSCH transmission based on the forthinformation and the first slot, to determine, based on the firstinformation, whether to omit transmitting a PDCCH repetition for PDCCHrepetitions with the first number, transmission circuitry furtherconfigured to repeatedly transmit, to the UE, PDCCH transmission withthe first number for a first search space set in a first CORESET whereinthe PDCCH repetitions carried the DCI.

3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) is the name given to a project to improvethe Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) mobile phone ordevice standard to cope with future requirements. In one aspect, UMTShas been modified to provide support and specification for the EvolvedUniversal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA) and Evolved UniversalTerrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN). 3GPP NR (New Radio) is thename given to a project to improve the LTE mobile phone or devicestandard to cope with future requirements. In one aspect, LTE has beenmodified to provide support and specification (TS 38.331, 38.321,38.300, 37.300, 38.211, 38.212, 38.213, 38.214, etc) for the New RadioAccess (NR) and Next generation-Radio Access Network (NG-RAN).

At least some aspects of the systems and methods disclosed herein may bedescribed in relation to the 3GPP LTE, LTE-Advanced (LTE-A),LTE-Advanced Pro, New Radio Access (NR), and other 3G/4G/5G standards(e.g., 3GPP Releases 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and/or 15, and/or NarrowBand-Internet of Things (NB-IoT)). However, the scope of the presentdisclosure should not be limited in this regard. At least some aspectsof the systems and methods disclosed herein may be utilized in othertypes of wireless communication systems.

A wireless communication device may be an electronic device used tocommunicate voice and/or data to a base station, which in turn maycommunicate with a network of devices (e.g., public switched telephonenetwork (PSTN), the Internet, etc.). In describing systems and methodsherein, a wireless communication device may alternatively be referred toas a mobile station, a UE (User Equipment), an access terminal, asubscriber station, a mobile terminal, a remote station, a userterminal, a terminal, a subscriber unit, a mobile device, a relay node,etc. Examples of wireless communication devices include cellular phones,smart phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), laptop computers,netbooks, e-readers, wireless modems, etc. In 3GPP specifications, awireless communication device is typically referred to as a UE. However,as the scope of the present disclosure should not be limited to the 3GPPstandards, the terms “UE” and “wireless communication device” may beused interchangeably herein to mean the more general term “wirelesscommunication device.”

In 3GPP specifications, a base station is typically referred to as agNB, a Node B, an eNB, a home enhanced or evolved Node B (HeNB) or someother similar terminology. As the scope of the disclosure should not belimited to 3GPP standards, the terms “base station,”, “gNB”, “Node B,”“eNB,” and “HeNB” may be used interchangeably herein to mean the moregeneral term “base station.” Furthermore, one example of a “basestation” is an access point. An access point may be an electronic devicethat provides access to a network (e.g., Local Area Network (LAN), theInternet, etc.) for wireless communication devices. The term“communication device” may be used to denote both a wirelesscommunication device and/or a base station.

It should be noted that as used herein, a “cell” may be anycommunication channel that is specified by standardization or regulatorybodies to be used for International Mobile Telecommunications-Advanced(IMT-Advanced), IMT-2020 (5G) and all of it or a subset of it may beadopted by 3GPP as licensed bands (e.g., frequency bands) to be used forcommunication between a base station and a UE. It should also be notedthat in NR, NG-RAN, E-UTRA and E-UTRAN overall description, as usedherein, a “cell” may be defined as “combination of downlink andoptionally uplink resources.” The linking between the carrier frequencyof the downlink resources and the carrier frequency of the uplinkresources may be indicated in the system information transmitted on thedownlink resources.

“Configured cells” are those cells of which the UE is aware and isallowed by a base station to transmit or receive information.“Configured cell(s)” may be serving cell(s). The UE may receive systeminformation and perform the required measurements on configured cells.“Configured cell(s)” for a radio connection may consist of a primarycell and/or no, one, or more secondary cell(s). “Activated cells” arethose configured cells on which the UE is transmitting and receiving.That is, activated cells are those cells for which the UE monitors thephysical downlink control channel (PDCCH) and in the case of a downlinktransmission, those cells for which the UE decodes a physical downlinkshared channel (PDSCH). “Deactivated cells” are those configured cellsthat the UE is not monitoring the transmission PDCCH. It should be notedthat a “cell” may be described in terms of differing dimensions. Forexample, a “cell” may have temporal, spatial (e.g., geographical) andfrequency characteristics.

The base stations may be connected by the NG interface to the 5G-corenetwork (5G-CN). 5G-CN may be called as to NextGen core (NGC), or 5Gcore (5GC). The base stations may also be connected by the Si interfaceto the evolved packet core (EPC). For instance, the base stations may beconnected to a NextGen (NG) mobility management function by the NG-2interface and to the NG core User Plane (UP) functions by the NG-3interface. The NG interface supports a many-to-many relation between NGmobility management functions, NG core UP functions and the basestations. The NG-2 interface is the NG interface for the control planeand the NG-3 interface is the NG interface for the user plane. Forinstance, for EPC connection, the base stations may be connected to amobility management entity (MME) by the S1-MME interface and to theserving gateway (S-GW) by the S1-U interface. The S1 interface supportsa many-to-many relation between MMEs, serving gateways and the basestations. The S1-MME interface is the S1 interface for the control planeand the S1-U interface is the Si interface for the user plane. The Uuinterface is a radio interface between the UE and the base station forthe radio protocol.

The radio protocol architecture may include the user plane and thecontrol plane. The user plane protocol stack may include packet dataconvergence protocol (PDCP), radio link control (RLC), medium accesscontrol (MAC) and physical (PHY) layers. A DRB (Data Radio Bearer) is aradio bearer that carries user data (as opposed to control planesignaling). For example, a DRB may be mapped to the user plane protocolstack. The PDCP, RLC, MAC and PHY sublayers (terminated at the basestation 460a on the network) may perform functions (e.g., headercompression, ciphering, scheduling, ARQ and HARQ) for the user plane.PDCP entities are located in the PDCP sublayer. RLC entities may belocated in the RLC sublayer. MAC entities may be located in the MACsublayer. The PHY entities may be located in the PHY sublayer.

The control plane may include a control plane protocol stack. The PDCPsublayer (terminated in base station on the network side) may performfunctions (e.g., ciphering and integrity protection) for the controlplane. The RLC and MAC sublayers (terminated in base station on thenetwork side) may perform the same functions as for the user plane. TheRadio Resource Control (RRC) (terminated in base station on the networkside) may perform the following functions. The RRC may perform broadcastfunctions, paging, RRC connection management, radio bearer (RB) control,mobility functions, UE measurement reporting and control. The Non-AccessStratum (NAS) control protocol (terminated in MME on the network side)may perform, among other things, evolved packet system (EPS) bearermanagement, authentication, evolved packet system connection management(ECM)-IDLE mobility handling, paging origination in ECM-IDLE andsecurity control.

Signaling Radio Bearers (SRBs) are Radio Bearers (RB) that may be usedonly for the transmission of RRC and NAS messages. Three SRBs may bedefined. SRBO may be used for RRC messages using the common controlchannel (CCCH) logical channel. SRB1 may be used for RRC messages (whichmay include a piggybacked NAS message) as well as for NAS messages priorto the establishment of SRB2, all using the dedicated control channel(DCCH) logical channel. SRB2 may be used for RRC messages which includelogged measurement information as well as for NAS messages, all usingthe DCCH logical channel. SRB2 has a lower-priority than SRB1 and may beconfigured by a network (e.g., base station) after security activation.A broadcast control channel (BCCH) logical channel may be used forbroadcasting system information. Some of BCCH logical channel may conveysystem information which may be sent from the network to the UE via BCH(Broadcast Channel) transport channel. BCH may be sent on a physicalbroadcast channel (PBCH). Some of BCCH logical channel may convey systeminformation which may be sent from the network to the UE via DL-SCH(Downlink Shared Channel) transport channel. Paging may be provided byusing paging control channel (PCCH) logical channel.

For example, the DL-DCCH logical channel may be used (but not limitedto) for a RRC reconfiguration message, a RRC reestablishment message, aRRC release, a UE Capability Enquiry message, a DL Information Transfermessage or a Security Mode Command message. UL-DCCH logical channel maybe used (but not limited to) for a measurement report message, a RRCReconfiguration Complete message, a RRC Reestablishment Completemessage, a RRC Setup Complete message, a Security Mode Complete message,a Security Mode Failure message, a UE Capability Information, message, aUL Handover Preparation Transfer message, a UL Information Transfermessage, a Counter Check Response message, a UE Information Responsemessage, a Proximity Indication message, a RN (Relay Node)Reconfiguration Complete message, an MBMS Counting Response message, aninter Frequency RSTD Measurement Indication message, a UE AssistanceInformation message, an In-device Coexistence Indication message, anMBMS Interest Indication message, an SCG Failure Information message.DL-CCCH logical channel may be used (but not limited to) for a RRCConnection Reestablishment message, a RRC Reestablishment Rejectmessage, a RRC Reject message, or a RRC Setup message. UL-CCCH logicalchannel may be used (but not limited to) for a RRC ReestablishmentRequest message, or a RRC Setup Request message.

System information may be divided into the MasterinformationBlock (MIB)and a number of SystemInformationBlocks (SIBs).

The UE may receive one or more RRC messages from the base station toobtain RRC configurations or parameters. The RRC layer of the UE mayconfigure RRC layer and/or lower layers (e.g., PHY layer, MAC layer, RLClayer, PDCP layer) of the UE according to the RRC configurations orparameters which may be configured by the RRC messages, broadcastedsystem information, and so on. The base station may transmit one or moreRRC messages to the UE to cause the UE to configure RRC layer and/orlower layers of the UE according to the RRC configurations or parameterswhich may be configured by the RRC messages, broadcasted systeminformation, and so on.

When carrier aggregation is configured, the UE may have one RRCconnection with the network. One radio interface may provide carrieraggregation. During RRC establishment, re-establishment and handover,one serving cell may provide Non-Access Stratum (NAS) mobilityinformation (e.g., a tracking area identity (TAI)). During RRCre-establishment and handover, one serving cell may provide a securityinput. This cell may be referred to as the primary cell (PCell). In thedownlink, the component carrier corresponding to the PCell may be thedownlink primary component carrier (DL PCC), while in the uplink it maybe the uplink primary component carrier (UL PCC).

Depending on UE capabilities, one or more SCells may be configured toform together with the PCell a set of serving cells. In the downlink,the component carrier corresponding to an SCell may be a downlinksecondary component carrier (DL SCC), while in the uplink it may be anuplink secondary component carrier (UL SCC).

The configured set of serving cells for the UE, therefore, may consistof one PCell and one or more SCells. For each SCell, the usage of uplinkresources by the UE (in addition to the downlink resources) may beconfigurable. The number of DL SCCs configured may be larger than orequal to the number of UL SCCs and no SCell may be configured for usageof uplink resources only.

From a UE viewpoint, each uplink resource may belong to one servingcell. The number of serving cells that may be configured depends on theaggregation capability of the UE. The PCell may only be changed using ahandover procedure (e.g., with a security key change and a random accessprocedure). A PCell may be used for transmission of the PUCCH. A primarysecondary cell (PSCell) may also be used for transmission of the PUCCH.The PSCell may be referred to as a primary SCG cell or SpCell of asecondary cell group. The PCell or PS Cell may not be de-activated.Re-establishment may be triggered when the PCell experiences radio linkfailure (RLF), not when the SCells experience RLF. Furthermore, NASinformation may be taken from the PCell.

The reconfiguration, addition and removal of SCells may be performed byRRC. At handover or reconfiguration with sync, Radio Resource Control(RRC) layer may also add, remove or reconfigure SCells for usage with atarget PCell. When adding a new SCell, dedicated RRC signaling may beused for sending all required system information of the SCell (e.g.,while in connected mode, UEs need not acquire broadcasted systeminformation directly from the SCells).

The systems and methods described herein may enhance the efficient useof radio resources in Carrier aggregation (CA) operation. Carrieraggregation refers to the concurrent utilization of more than onecomponent carrier (CC). In carrier aggregation, more than one cell maybe aggregated to a UE. In one example, carrier aggregation may be usedto increase the effective bandwidth available to a UE. In traditionalcarrier aggregation, a single base station is assumed to providemultiple serving cells for a UE. Even in scenarios where two or morecells may be aggregated (e.g., a macro cell aggregated with remote radiohead (RRH) cells) the cells may be controlled (e.g., scheduled) by asingle base station.

The systems and methods described herein may enhance the efficient useof radio resources in Carrier aggregation operation. Carrier aggregationrefers to the concurrent utilization of more than one component carrier(CC). In carrier aggregation, more than one cell may be aggregated to aUE. In one example, carrier aggregation may be used to increase theeffective bandwidth available to a UE. In traditional carrieraggregation, a single base station is assumed to provide multipleserving cells for a UE. Even in scenarios where two or more cells may beaggregated (e.g., a macro cell aggregated with remote radio head (RRH)cells) the cells may be controlled (e.g., scheduled) by a single basestation. However, in a small cell deployment scenario, each node (e.g.,base station, RRH, etc.) may have its own independent scheduler. Tomaximize the efficiency of radio resources utilization of both nodes, aUE may connect to two or more nodes that have different schedulers. Thesystems and methods described herein may enhance the efficient use ofradio resources in dual connectivity operation. A UE may be configuredmultiple groups of serving cells, where each group may have carrieraggregation operation (e.g., if the group includes more than one servingcell).

In Dual Connectivity (DC) the UE may be required to be capable of UL-CAwith simultaneous PUCCH/PUCCH and PUCCH/PUSCH transmissions acrosscell-groups (CGs). In a small cell deployment scenario, each node (e.g.,eNB, RRH, etc.) may have its own independent scheduler. To maximize theefficiency of radio resources utilization of both nodes, a UE mayconnect to two or more nodes that have different schedulers. A UE may beconfigured multiple groups of serving cells, where each group may havecarrier aggregation operation (e.g., if the group includes more than oneserving cell). A UE in RRC CONNECTED may be configured with DualConnectivity or MR-DC, when configured with a Master and a SecondaryCell Group. A Cell Group (CG) may be a subset of the serving cells of aUE, configured with Dual Connectivity (DC) or MR-DC, i.e. a Master CellGroup (MCG) or a Secondary Cell Group (SCG). The Master Cell Group maybe a group of serving cells of a UE comprising of the PCell and zero ormore secondary cells. The Secondary Cell Group (SCG) may be a group ofsecondary cells of a UE, configured with DC or MR-DC, comprising of thePSCell and zero or more other secondary cells. A Primary Secondary Cell(PSCell) may be the SCG cell in which the UE is instructed to performrandom access when performing the SCG change procedure. “PSCell” may bealso called as a Primary SCG Cell. In Dual Connectivity or MR-DC, twoMAC entities may be configured in the UE: one for the MCG and one forthe SCG. Each MAC entity may be configured by RRC with a serving cellsupporting PUCCH transmission and contention based Random Access. In aMAC layer, the term Special Cell (SpCell) may refer to such cell,whereas the term SCell may refer to other serving cells. The term SpCelleither may refer to the PCell of the MCG or the PSCell of the SCGdepending on if the MAC entity is associated to the MCG or the SCG,respectively. A Timing Advance Group (TAG) containing the SpCell of aMAC entity may be referred to as primary TAG (pTAG), whereas the termsecondary TAG (sTAG) refers to other TAGs.

DC may be further enhanced to support Multi-RAT Dual Connectivity(MR-DC). MR-DC may be a generalization of the Intra-E-UTRA DualConnectivity (DC) described in 36.300, where a multiple Rx/Tx UE may beconfigured to utilize resources provided by two different nodesconnected via non-ideal backhaul, one providing E-UTRA access and theother one providing NR access. One node acts as a Mater Node (MN) andthe other as a Secondary Node (SN). The MN and SN are connected via anetwork interface and at least the MN is connected to the core network.In DC, a PSCell may be a primary secondary cell. In EN-DC, a PSCell maybe a primary SCG cell or SpCell of a secondary cell group.

E-UTRAN may support MR-DC via E-UTRA-NR Dual Connectivity (EN-DC), inwhich a UE is connected to one eNB that acts as a MN and one en-gNB thatacts as a SN. The en-gNB is a node providing NR user plane and controlplane protocol terminations towards the UE, and acting as Secondary Nodein EN-DC. The eNB is connected to the EPC via the S1 interface and tothe en-gNB via the X2 interface. The en-gNB might also be connected tothe EPC via the S1-U interface and other en-gNBs via the X2-U interface.

A timer is running once it is started, until it is stopped or until itexpires; otherwise it is not running A timer can be started if it is notrunning or restarted if it is running A Timer may be always started orrestarted from its initial value.

For NR, a technology of aggregating NR carriers may be studied. Bothlower layer aggregation like Carrier Aggregation (CA) for LTE and upperlayer aggregation like DC are investigated. From layer 2/3 point ofview, aggregation of carriers with different numerologies may besupported in NR.

The main services and functions of the RRC sublayer may include thefollowing:

-   -   Broadcast of System Information related to Access Stratum (AS)        and Non Access Stratum (NAS);    -   Paging initiated by CN or RAN;    -   Establishment, maintenance and release of an RRC connection        between the UE and NR RAN including:    -   Addition, modification and release of carrier aggregation;    -   Addition, modification and release of Dual Connectivity in NR or        between LTE and NR;    -   Security functions including key management;    -   Establishment, configuration, maintenance and release of        signaling radio bearers and data radio bearers;    -   Mobility functions including:    -   Handover;    -   UE cell selection and reselection and control of cell selection        and reselection;    -   Context transfer at handover.    -   QoS management functions;    -   UE measurement reporting and control of the reporting;    -   NAS message transfer to/from NAS from/to UE.

Each MAC entity of a UE may be configured by RRC with a DiscontinuousReception (DRX) functionality that controls the UE's PDCCH monitoringactivity for the MAC entity's C-RNTI (Radio Network TemporaryIdentifier), CS-RNTI, INT-RNTI, SFI-RNTI, SP-CSI-RNTI, TPC-PUCCH-RNTI,TPC-PUSCH-RNTI, and TPC-SRS-RNTI. For scheduling at cell level, thefollowing identities are used:

-   -   C (Cell)-RNTI: unique UE identification used as an identifier of        the RRC Connection and for scheduling;    -   CS (Configured Scheduling)-RNTI: unique UE identification used        for Semi-Persistent Scheduling in the downlink;    -   INT-RNTI: identification of pre-emption in the downlink;    -   P-RNTI: identification of Paging and System Information change        notification in the downlink;    -   SI-RNTI: identification of Broadcast and System Information in        the downlink;    -   SP-CSI-RNTI: unique UE identification used for semi-persistent        CSI reporting on PUSCH;    -   CI-RNTI: Cancellation Indication RNTI for Uplink.        For power and slot format control, the following identities are        used:    -   SFI-RNTI: identification of slot format;    -   TPC-PUCCH-RNTI: unique UE identification to control the power of        PUCCH;    -   TPC-PUSCH-RNTI: unique UE identification to control the power of        PUSCH;    -   TPC-SRS-RNTI: unique UE identification to control the power of        SRS; During the random access procedure, the following        identities are also used:    -   RA-RNTI: identification of the Random Access Response in the        downlink;    -   Temporary C-RNTI: UE identification temporarily used for        scheduling during the random access procedure;    -   Random value for contention resolution: UE identification        temporarily used for contention resolution purposes during the        random access procedure.        For NR connected to SGC, the following UE identities are used at        NG-RAN level:    -   I-RNTI: used to identify the UE context in RRC INACTIVE.

The size of various fields in the time domain is expressed in time unitsT_(c)=1/(Δf_(max)·N_(f)) where Δf_(max)=48010³ Hz and N_(f)=4096. Theconstant κ=T_(s)/T_(c)=64 where T_(s)1/(Δf_(ref)·N_(f,ref)),Δf_(ref)=15·10³ Hz and N_(f,ref)=2048.

Multiple OFDM numerologies are supported as given by Table 4.2-1 of [TS38.211] where μ and the cyclic prefix for a bandwidth part are obtainedfrom the higher-layer parameter subcarrierSpacing and cyclicPrefix,respectively.

The size of various fields in the time domain may be expressed as anumber of time units T_(s)=1/(15000×2048) seconds. Downlink and uplinktransmissions are organized into frames withT_(f)=(Δf_(max)N_(f)/100)·T_(c)=10 ms duration, each consisting of tensubframes of T_(sf)=(Δf_(max)N_(f)/1000)·T_(c)=1 ms duration. The numberof consecutive OFDM symbols per subframe is N_(symb)^(subframeμ)=N_(symb) ^(slot)N_(slot) ^(subframeμ). Each frame isdivided into two equally-sized half-frames of five subframes each withhalf-frame 0 consisting of subframes 0-4 and half-frame 1 consisting ofsubframes 5-9.

For subcarrier spacing (SCS) configuration μ, slots are numbered n_(s)^(μ) ∈{0, . . . , N_(slot) ^(subframe, μ)−1} increasing order within asubframe and n_(s,f) ^(μ) ∈{0, . . . , N_(slot) ^(frameμ)−1} inincreasing order within a frame. N_(slot) ^(subframe,μ) is the number ofslots per subframe for subcarrier spacing configuration μ. There areN_(symb) ^(slot) consecutive OFDM symbols in a slot where N_(symb)^(slot) depends on the cyclic prefix as given by Tables 4.3.2-1 and4.3.2-2 of [TS 38.211]. The start of slot n_(s) ^(μ) in a subframe isaligned in time with the start of OFDM symbol n_(s) ^(μ)N_(symb) ^(slot)the same subframe. Subcarrier spacing refers to a spacing (or frequencybandwidth) between two consecutive subcarrier in the frequency domain.For example, the subcarrier spacing can be set to 15 kHz, 30 kHz, 60kHz, 120 kHz, or 240 kHz. A resource block is defined as a number ofconsecutive subcarriers (e.g. 12) in the frequency domain. For a carrierwith different frequency, the applicable subcarrier may be different.For example, for a carrier in a frequency rang 1, a subcarrier spacingonly among a set of {15 kHz, 30 kHz, 60 kHz} is applicable. For acarrier in a frequency rang 2, a subcarrier spacing only among a set of{60 kHz, 120 kHz, 240 kHz} is applicable. The base station may notconfigure an inapplicable subcarrier spacing for a carrier.

OFDM symbols in a slot can be classified as ‘downlink’, ‘flexible’, or‘uplink’. Signaling of slot formats is described in subclause 11.1 of[TS 38.213].

In a slot in a downlink frame, the UE may assume that downlinktransmissions only occur in ‘downlink’ or ‘flexible’ symbols. In a slotin an uplink frame, the UE may only transmit in ‘uplink’ or ‘flexible’symbols.

Various examples of the systems and methods disclosed herein are nowdescribed with reference to the Figures, where like reference numbersmay indicate functionally similar elements. The systems and methods asgenerally described and illustrated in the Figures herein could bearranged and designed in a wide variety of different implementations.Thus, the following more detailed description of severalimplementations, as represented in the Figures, is not intended to limitscope, as claimed, but is merely representative of the systems andmethods.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating one configuration of one or morebase stations 160 (e.g., eNB, gNB) and one or more user equipments (UEs)102 in which systems and methods for determining PDCCH repetition andPDSCH transmission may be implemented. The one or more UEs 102 maycommunicate with one or more base stations 160 using one or moreantennas 122 a-n. For example, a UE 102 transmits electromagneticsignals to the base station 160 and receives electromagnetic signalsfrom the base station 160 using the one or more antennas 122 a-n. Thebase station 160 communicates with the UE 102 using one or more antennas180 a-n.

It should be noted that in some configurations, one or more of the UEs102 described herein may be implemented in a single device. For example,multiple UEs 102 may be combined into a single device in someimplementations. Additionally or alternatively, in some configurations,one or more of the base stations 160 described herein may be implementedin a single device. For example, multiple base stations 160 may becombined into a single device in some implementations. In the context ofFIG. 1, for instance, a single device may include one or more UEs 102 inaccordance with the systems and methods described herein. Additionallyor alternatively, one or more base stations 160 in accordance with thesystems and methods described herein may be implemented as a singledevice or multiple devices.

The UE 102 and the base station 160 may use one or more channels 119,121 to communicate with each other. For example, a UE 102 may transmitinformation or data to the base station 160 using one or more uplink(UL) channels 121 and signals. Examples of uplink channels 121 include aphysical uplink control channel (PUCCH) and a physical uplink sharedchannel (PUSCH), etc. Examples of uplink signals include a demodulationreference signal (DMRS) and a sounding reference signal (SRS), etc. Theone or more base stations 160 may also transmit information or data tothe one or more UEs 102 using one or more downlink (DL) channels 119 andsignals, for instance. Examples of downlink channels 119 include aPDCCH, a PDSCH, etc. A PDCCH can be used to schedule DL transmissions onPDSCH and UL transmissions on PUSCH, where the Downlink ControlInformation (DCI) on PDCCH includes downlink assignment and uplinkgrants. The PDCCH is used for transmitting Downlink Control Information(DCI) in a case of downlink radio communication (radio communicationfrom the base station to the UE). Here, one or more DCIs (may bereferred to as DCI formats) are defined for transmission of downlinkcontrol information. Information bits are mapped to one or more fieldsdefined in a DCI format. Examples of downlink signals include a primarysynchronization signal (PSS), a secondary synchronization signal (SSS),a cell-specific reference signal (CRS), a non-zero power channel stateinformation reference signal (NZP CSI-RS), and a zero power channelstate information reference signal (ZP CSI-RS), etc. Other kinds ofchannels or signals may be used.

Each of the one or more UEs 102 may include one or more transceivers118, one or more demodulators 114, one or more decoders 108, one or moreencoders 150, one or more modulators 154, one or more data buffers 104and one or more UE operations modules 124. For example, one or morereception and/or transmission paths may be implemented in the UE 102.For convenience, only a single transceiver 118, decoder 108, demodulator114, encoder 150 and modulator 154 are illustrated in the UE 102, thoughmultiple parallel elements (e.g., transceivers 118, decoders 108,demodulators 114, encoders 150 and modulators 154) may be implemented.

The transceiver 118 may include one or more receivers 120 and one ormore transmitters 158. The one or more receivers 120 may receive signals(e.g., downlink channels, downlink signals) from the base station 160using one or more antennas 122 a-n. For example, the receiver 120 mayreceive and downconvert signals to produce one or more received signals116. The one or more received signals 116 may be provided to ademodulator 114. The one or more transmitters 158 may transmit signals(e.g., uplink channels, uplink signals) to the base station 160 usingone or more antennas 122 a-n. For example, the one or more transmitters158 may upconvert and transmit one or more modulated signals 156.

The demodulator 114 may demodulate the one or more received signals 116to produce one or more demodulated signals 112. The one or moredemodulated signals 112 may be provided to the decoder 108. The UE 102may use the decoder 108 to decode signals. The decoder 108 may produceone or more decoded signals 106, 110. For example, a first UE-decodedsignal 106 may comprise received payload data, which may be stored in adata buffer 104. A second UE-decoded signal 110 may comprise overheaddata and/or control data. For example, the second UE-decoded signal 110may provide data that may be used by the UE operations module 124 toperform one or more operations.

As used herein, the term “module” may mean that a particular element orcomponent may be implemented in hardware, software or a combination ofhardware and software. However, it should be noted that any elementdenoted as a “module” herein may alternatively be implemented inhardware. For example, the UE operations module 124 may be implementedin hardware, software or a combination of both.

In general, the UE operations module 124 may enable the UE 102 tocommunicate with the one or more base stations 160. The UE operationsmodule 124 may include a UE RRC information configuration module 126.The UE operations module 124 may include a UE DCI control module 128. Insome implementations, the UE operations module 124 may include physical(PHY) entities, Medium Access Control (MAC) entities, Radio Link Control(RLC) entities, packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) entities, and anRadio Resource Control (RRC) entity. For example, the UE RRC informationconfiguration module 126 may process RRC parameters received from thebase station. The UE DCI control module (processing module) 128 maydetermine when and where to monitor or search the configured PDCCHcandidates for each search space set in a CORESET based on theprocessing output from the UE RRC information configuration module 126.The UE DCI control module 128 may determine whether PDCCH candidaterepetition is applied or not based on the processing output from the UERRC information configuration module 126. The UE DCI control module 128may determine a set of one or more PDCCH monitoring occasions for asearch space set in a CORESET wherein each PDCCH candidate is repeatedin the one or more PDCCH monitoring occasions in the CORESET. The UE DCIcontrol module 128 may determine the respective location of the one ormore PDCCH monitoring occasions in the set and the total number of thePDCCH monitoring occasions in the set. The location of a PDCCHmonitoring occasion herein at least includes an index of a slot that thePDCCH monitoring occasion exists and/or an index for the first symbol ofthe PDCCH monitoring occasion in the slot.

The UE DCI control module 128 may determine, based on the processingoutput (e.g. first information indicating a slot format and secondinformation indicating a maximum number of PDCCH repetition) from the UERRC information configuration module 126, a PDCCH monitoring is anapplicable PDCCH monitoring occasion or an inapplicable PDCCH monitoringoccasion. The UE DCI control module 128 may determine whether to omitmonitoring a PDCCH repetition for each PDCCH repetition among therepetitions. The UE DCI control module 128 may determine, upon detectionof PDCCH repetition, a first number indicated by DCI and a timing of thePDSCH scheduled by the PDCCH. The UE DCI control module 128 maydetermine a first slot in which the last PDCCH repetition of the PDCCHrepetitions with the first number is located. The UE DCI control module128 may determine a starting slot of the PDSCH transmission based on thedetermined first slot and the timing of PDSCH.

The UE operations module 124 may provide the benefit of performing PDCCHcandidate search and monitoring efficiently.

The UE operations module 124 may provide information 148 to the one ormore receivers 120. For example, the UE operations module 124 may informthe receiver(s) 120 when or when not to receive transmissions based onthe Radio Resource Control (RRC) message (e.g, broadcasted systeminformation, RRC reconfiguration message), MAC control element, and/orthe DCI (Downlink Control Information). The UE operations module 124 mayprovide information 148, including the PDCCH monitoring occasions andDCI format size, to the one or more receivers 120. The UE operationmodule 124 may inform the receiver(s) 120 when or where toreceive/monitor the PDCCH candidate for DCI formats with which DCI size.

The UE operations module 124 may provide information 138 to thedemodulator 114. For example, the UE operations module 124 may informthe demodulator 114 of a modulation pattern anticipated fortransmissions from the base station 160.

The UE operations module 124 may provide information 136 to the decoder108. For example, the UE operations module 124 may inform the decoder108 of an anticipated encoding for transmissions from the base station160. For example, the UE operations module 124 may inform the decoder108 of an anticipated PDCCH candidate encoding with which DCI size fortransmissions from the base station 160.

The UE operations module 124 may provide information 142 to the encoder150. The information 142 may include data to be encoded and/orinstructions for encoding. For example, the UE operations module 124 mayinstruct the encoder 150 to encode transmission data 146 and/or otherinformation 142.

The encoder 150 may encode transmission data 146 and/or otherinformation 142 provided by the UE operations module 124. For example,encoding the data 146 and/or other information 142 may involve errordetection and/or correction coding, mapping data to space, time and/orfrequency resources for transmission, multiplexing, etc. The encoder 150may provide encoded data 152 to the modulator 154.

The UE operations module 124 may provide information 144 to themodulator 154. For example, the UE operations module 124 may inform themodulator 154 of a modulation type (e.g., constellation mapping) to beused for transmissions to the base station 160. The modulator 154 maymodulate the encoded data 152 to provide one or more modulated signals156 to the one or more transmitters 158.

The UE operations module 124 may provide information 140 to the one ormore transmitters 158. This information 140 may include instructions forthe one or more transmitters 158. For example, the UE operations module124 may instruct the one or more transmitters 158 when to transmit asignal to the base station 160. The one or more transmitters 158 mayupconvert and transmit the modulated signal(s) 156 to one or more basestations 160.

The base station 160 may include one or more transceivers 176, one ormore demodulators 172, one or more decoders 166, one or more encoders109, one or more modulators 113, one or more data buffers 162 and one ormore base station operations modules 182. For example, one or morereception and/or transmission paths may be implemented in a base station160. For convenience, only a single transceiver 176, decoder 166,demodulator 172, encoder 109 and modulator 113 are illustrated in thebase station 160, though multiple parallel elements (e.g., transceivers176, decoders 166, demodulators 172, encoders 109 and modulators 113)may be implemented.

The transceiver 176 may include one or more receivers 178 and one ormore transmitters 117. The one or more receivers 178 may receive signals(e.g., uplink channels, uplink signals) from the UE 102 using one ormore antennas 180 a-n. For example, the receiver 178 may receive anddownconvert signals to produce one or more received signals 174. The oneor more received signals 174 may be provided to a demodulator 172. Theone or more transmitters 117 may transmit signals (e.g., downlinkchannels, downlink signals) to the UE 102 using one or more antennas 180a-n. For example, the one or more transmitters 117 may upconvert andtransmit one or more modulated signals 115.

The demodulator 172 may demodulate the one or more received signals 174to produce one or more demodulated signals 170. The one or moredemodulated signals 170 may be provided to the decoder 166. The basestation 160 may use the decoder 166 to decode signals. The decoder 166may produce one or more decoded signals 164, 168. For example, a firstbase station-decoded signal 164 may comprise received payload data,which may be stored in a data buffer 162. A second base station-decodedsignal 168 may comprise overhead data and/or control data. For example,the second base station-decoded signal 168 may provide data (e.g., PUSCHtransmission data) that may be used by the base station operationsmodule 182 to perform one or more operations.

In general, the base station operations module 182 may enable the basestation 160 to communicate with the one or more UEs 102. The basestation operations module 182 may include a base station RRC informationconfiguration module 194. The base station operations module 182 mayinclude a base station DCI control module 196 (or a base station DCIprocessing module 196). The base station operations module 182 mayinclude PHY entities, MAC entities, RLC entities, PDCP entities, and anRRC entity.

The base station DCI control module 196 may determine, for respectiveUE, when and where to monitor or search a configured PDCCH candidate fora search space set in a CORSET. The base station DCI control module 196may determine, for UE(s), whether the PDCCH candidate repetition isapplied or not. The base station DCI control module 196 may determine,for UE(s), a set of one or more PDCCH monitoring occasions for a searchspace set in a CORESET wherein each PDCCH candidate is repeated in theone or more PDCCH monitoring occasions in the CORESET. The base stationDCI control module 196 may determine, for a UE, the respective locationof the one or more PDCCH monitoring occasions in the set and the totalnumber of the PDCCH monitoring occasions in the set. The base stationDCI control module 196 may determine, for a UE, a slot where the set ofthe one or more PDCCH monitoring occasions for PDCCH repetitions starts.

The base station DCI control module 196 may input the determinedinformation to the base station RRC information configuration module194. The base station RRC information configuration module 194 maygenerate RRC parameters for search space configurations and CORESETconfiguration based on the output from the base station DCI controlmodule 196. The base station RRC information configuration module 194may generate, to a UE, first information indicating a slot format andsecond information indicating a maximum number of PDCCH repetition. Thebase station DCI control module 196 may determine, for a UE, DCIincluding third information indicating a first number and forthinformation indicating timing of a PDSCH. The base station DCI controlmodule 196 may determine, for the UE, based on the third information, afirst slot in which the last one PDCCH repetition of the PDCCHrepetitions with the first number is located. The base station DCIcontrol module 196 may determine a starting slot of the PDSCHtransmission based on the determined first slot and the timing of PDSCH.The base station DCI control module 196 may determine, for the UE, basedon the first information, whether to omit transmitting a PDCCHrepetition for PDCCH repetitions with the first number.

The base station operations module 182 may provide the benefit ofperforming PDCCH candidate search and monitoring efficiently.

The base station operations module 182 may provide information 190 tothe one or more receivers 178. For example, the base station operationsmodule 182 may inform the receiver(s) 178 when or when not to receivetransmissions based on the RRC message (e.g, broadcasted systeminformation, RRC reconfiguration message), MAC control element, and/orthe DCI (Downlink Control Information).

The base station operations module 182 may provide information 188 tothe demodulator 172. For example, the base station operations module 182may inform the demodulator 172 of a modulation pattern anticipated fortransmissions from the UE(s) 102.

The base station operations module 182 may provide information 186 tothe decoder 166. For example, the base station operations module 182 mayinform the decoder 166 of an anticipated encoding for transmissions fromthe UE(s) 102.

The base station operations module 182 may provide information 101 tothe encoder 109. The information 101 may include data to be encodedand/or instructions for encoding. For example, the base stationoperations module 182 may instruct the encoder 109 to encodetransmission data 105 and/or other information 101.

In general, the base station operations module 182 may enable the basestation 160 to communicate with one or more network nodes (e.g., a NGmobility management function, a NG core UP functions, a mobilitymanagement entity (MME), serving gateway (S-GW), gNBs). The base stationoperations module 182 may also generate a RRC reconfiguration message tobe signaled to the UE 102.

The encoder 109 may encode transmission data 105 and/or otherinformation 101 provided by the base station operations module 182. Forexample, encoding the data 105 and/or other information 101 may involveerror detection and/or correction coding, mapping data to space, timeand/or frequency resources for transmission, multiplexing, etc. Theencoder 109 may provide encoded data 111 to the modulator 113. Thetransmission data 105 may include network data to be relayed to the UE102.

The base station operations module 182 may provide information 103 tothe modulator 113. This information 103 may include instructions for themodulator 113. For example, the base station operations module 182 mayinform the modulator 113 of a modulation type (e.g., constellationmapping) to be used for transmissions to the UE(s) 102. The modulator113 may modulate the encoded data 111 to provide one or more modulatedsignals 115 to the one or more transmitters 117.

The base station operations module 182 may provide information 192 tothe one or more transmitters 117. This information 192 may includeinstructions for the one or more transmitters 117. For example, the basestation operations module 182 may instruct the one or more transmitters117 when to (or when not to) transmit a signal to the UE(s) 102. Thebase station operations module 182 may provide information 192,including the PDCCH monitoring occasions and DCI format size, to the oneor more transmitters 117. The base station operation module 182 mayinform the transmitter(s) 117 when or where to transmit the PDCCHcandidate for DCI formats with which DCI size. The one or moretransmitters 117 may upconvert and transmit the modulated signal(s) 115to one or more UEs 102.

It should be noted that one or more of the elements or parts thereofincluded in the base station(s) 160 and UE(s) 102 may be implemented inhardware. For example, one or more of these elements or parts thereofmay be implemented as a chip, circuitry or hardware components, etc. Itshould also be noted that one or more of the functions or methodsdescribed herein may be implemented in and/or performed using hardware.For example, one or more of the methods described herein may beimplemented in and/or realized using a chipset, an application-specificintegrated circuit (ASIC), a large-scale integrated circuit (LSI) orintegrated circuit, etc.

A base station may generate a RRC message including the one or more RRCparameters, and transmit the RRC message to a UE. A UE may receive, froma base station, a RRC message including one or more RRC parameters. Theterm ‘RRC parameter(s)’ in the present disclosure may be alternativelyreferred to as ‘RRC information element(s)’. A RRC parameter may furtherinclude one or more RRC parameter(s). In the present disclosure, a RRCmessage may include system information. a RRC message may include one ormore RRC parameters. A RRC message may be sent on a broadcast controlchannel (BCCH) logical channel, a common control channel (CCCH) logicalchannel or a dedicated control channel (DCCH) logical channel.

In the present disclosure, a description ‘a base station may configure aUE to’ may also imply/refer to ‘a base station may transmit, to a UE, anRRC message including one or more RRC parameters’. Additionally oralternatively, ‘RRC parameter configure a UE to’ may also refer to ‘abase station may transmit, to a UE, an RRC message including one or moreRRC parameters’. Additionally or alternatively, ‘a UE is configured to’may also refer to ‘a UE may receive, from a base station, an RRC messageincluding one or more RRC parameters’.

A base station may transmit a RRC message including one or more RRCparameters related to BWP configuration to a UE. A UE may receive theRRC message including one or more RRC parameters related to BWPconfiguration from a base station. For each cell, the base station mayconfigure at least an initial DL BWP and one initial uplink bandwidthparts (initial UL BWP) to the UE. Furthermore, the base station mayconfigure additional UL and DL BWPs to the UE for a cell.

A RRC parameters initialDownlinkBWP may indicate the initial downlinkBWP (initial DL BWP) configuration for a serving cell (e.g., a SpCelland Scell). The base station may configure the RRC parameterlocationAndBandwidth included in the initialDownlinkBWP so that theinitial DL BWP contains the entire CORESET 0 of this serving cell in thefrequency domain. The locationAndBandwidth may be used to indicate thefrequency domain location and bandwidth of a BWP. A RRC parametersinitialUplinkBWP may indicate the initial uplink BWP (initial UL BWP)configuration for a serving cell (e.g., a SpCell and Scell). The basestation may transmit initialDownlinkBWP and/or initialUplinkBWP whichmay be included in SIB1, RRC parameter ServingCellConfigCommon, or RRCparameter ServingCellConfig to the UE.

SIB1, which is a cell-specific system information block(SystemInformationBlock, SIB), may contain information relevant whenevaluating if a UE is allowed to access a cell and define the schedulingof other system information. SIB1 may also contain radio resourceconfiguration information that is common for all UEs and barringinformation applied to the unified access control. The RRC parameterServingCellConfigCommon is used to configure cell specific parameters ofa UE's serving cell. The RRC parameter ServingCellConfig is used toconfigure (add or modify) the UE with a serving cell, which may be theSpCell or an SCell of an MCS or SCG. The RRC parameter ServingCellConfigherein are mostly UE specific but partly also cell specific.

The base station may configure the UE with a RRC parameter BWP-Downlinkand a RRC parameter BWP-Uplink. The RRC parameter BWP-Downlink can beused to configure an additional DL BWP. The RRC parameter BWP-Uplink canbe used to configure an additional UL BWP. The base station may transmitthe BWP-Downlink and the BWP-Uplink which may be included in RRCparameter ServingCellConfig to the UE.

If a UE is not configured (provided) initialDownlinkBWP from a basestation, an initial DL BWP is defined by a location and number ofcontiguous physical resource blocks (PRBs), starting from a PRB with thelowest index and ending at a PRB with the highest index among PRBs of aCORESET for Type0-PDCCH CSS set (i.e., CORESET 0), and a subcarrierspacing (SCS) and a cyclic prefix for PDCCH reception in the CORESET forType0-PDCCH CSS set. If a UE is configured (provided) initialDownlinkBWPfrom a base station, the initial DL BWP is provided byinitialDownlinkBWP. If a UE is configured (provided) initialUplinkBWPfrom a base station, the initial UL BWP is provided by initialUplinkBWP.

The UE may be configured by the based station, at least one initial BWPand up to 4 additional BWP(s). One of the initial BWP and the configuredadditional BWP(s) may be activated as an active BWP. The UE may monitorDCI format, and/or receive PDSCH in the active DL BWP. The UE may notmonitor DCI format, and/or receive PDSCH in a DL BWP other than theactive DL BWP. The UE may transmit PUSCH and/or PUCCH in the active ULBWP. The UE may not transmit PUSCH and/or PUCCH in a BWP other than theactive UL BWP.

As above-mentioned, a UE may monitor DCI format in the active DL BWP. Tobe more specific, a UE may monitor a set of PDCCH candidates in one ormore CORESETs on the active DL BWP on each activated serving cellconfigured with PDCCH monitoring according to corresponding search spaceset where monitoring implies decoding each PDCCH candidate according tothe monitored DCI formats.

A set of PDCCH candidates for a UE to monitor is defined in terms ofPDCCH search space sets. A search space set can be a CSS set or a USSset. A UE may monitor a set of PDCCH candidates in one or more of thefollowing search space sets

a Type0-PDCCH CSS set configured by pdcch-ConfigSIB1 in MIB or bysearchSpaceSIB1 in PDCCH-ConfigCommon or by searchSpaceZero inPDCCH-ConfigCommon for a DCI format with CRC scrambled by a SI-RNTI onthe primary cell of the MCG

a Type0A-PDCCH CSS set configured by searchSpaceOtherSystemInformationin PDCCH-ConfigCommon for a DCI format with CRC scrambled by a SI-RNTIon the primary cell of the MCG

a Type1-PDCCH CSS set configured by ra-SearchSpace in PDCCH-ConfigCommonfor a DCI format with CRC scrambled by a RA-RNTI or a TC-RNTI on theprimary cell

Type2-PDCCH CSS set configured by pagingSearchSpace inPDCCH-ConfigCommon for a DCI format with CRC scrambled by a P-RNTI onthe primary cell of the MCG

a Type3-PDCCH CSS set configured by SearchSpace in PDCCH-Config withsearchSpaceType=common for DCI formats with CRC scrambled by INT-RNTI,SFI-RNTI, TPC-PUSCH-RNTI, TPC-PUCCH-RNTI, or TPC-SRS-RNTI and, only forthe primary cell, C-RNTI, MCS-C-RNTI, or CS-RNTI(s), and

a USS set configured by SearchSpace in PDCCH-Config withsearchSpaceType=ue-Specific for DCI formats with CRC scrambled byC-RNTI, MCS-C-RNTI, SP-CSI-RNTI, or CS-RNTI(s).

For a DL BWP, if a UE is configured (provided) one above-describedsearch space set, the UE may determine PDCCH monitoring occasions for aset of PDCCH candidates of the configured search space set. PDCCHmonitoring occasions for monitoring PDCCH candidates of a search spaceset s is determined according to the search space set s configurationand a CORESET configuration associated with the search space sets. Inother words, a UE may monitor a set of PDCCH candidates of the searchspace set in the determined (configured) PDCCH monitoring occasions inone or more configured control resource sets (CORESETs) according to thecorresponding search space set configurations and CORESET configuration.A base station may transmit, to a UE, information to specify one or moreCORESET configuration and/or search space configuration. The informationmay be included in MIB and/or SIBs broadcasted by the base station. Theinformation may be included in RRC configurations or RRC parameters. Abase station may broadcast system information such as MIB, SIBs toindicate CORESET configuration or search space configuration to a UE. Orthe base station may transmit a RRC message including one or more RRCparameters related to CORESET configuration and/or search spaceconfiguration to a UE.

An illustration of search space set configuration is described below.

A base station may transmit a RRC message including one or more RRCparameters related to search space configuration. A base station maydetermine one or more RRC parameter(s) related to search spaceconfiguration for a UE. A UE may receive, from a base station, a RRCmessage including one or more RRC parameters related to search spaceconfiguration. RRC parameter(s) related to search space configuration(e.g. SearchSpace, searchSpaceZero) defines how and where to search forPDCCH candidates. ‘search/monitor for PDCCH candidate for a DCI format’may also refer to ‘monitor/search for a DCI format’ for short.

For example, a RRC parameter searchSpaceZero is used to configure acommon search space 0 of an initial DL BWP. The searchSpaceZerocorresponds to 4 bits. The base station may transmit the searchSpaceZerovia PBCH(MIB) or ServingCell.

Additionally, a RRC parameter SearchSpace is used to define how/where tosearch for PDCCH candidates. The RRC parameters search space may includea plurality of RRC parameters as like, searchSpaceId,controlResourceSetId, monitoringSlotPeriodicityAndOffset, duration,monitoringSymbolsWithinSlot, nrofCandidates, searchSpaceType. Some ofthe above-mentioned RRC parameters may be present or absent in the RRCparameters SearchSpace. Namely, the RRC parameter SearchSpace mayinclude all the above-mentioned RRC parameters. Namely, the RRCparameter SearchSpace may include one or more of the above-mentioned RRCparameters. If some of the parameters are absent in the RRC parameterSearchSpace, the UE 102 may apply a default value for each of thoseparameters.

Herein, the RRC parameter searchSpaceId is an identity or an index of asearch space. The RRC parameter searchSpaceId is used to identify asearch space. Or rather, the RRC parameter serchSpaceId provide a searchspace set index s, 0<=s<40. Then a search space s hereinafter may referto a search space identified by index s indicated by RRC parametersearchSpaceId. The RRC parameter controlResourceSetId concerns anidentity of a CORESET, used to identify a CORESET. The RRC parametercontrolResourceSetId indicates an association between the search space sand the CORESET identified by controlResourceSetId. The RRC parametercontrolResourceSetId indicates a CORESET applicable for the searchspace. CORESET p hereinafter may refer to a CORESET identified by indexp indicated by RRC parameter controlResourceSetId. Each search space isassociated with one CORESET. The RRC parametermonitoringSlotPeriodicityAndOffset is used to indicate slots for PDCCHmonitoring configured as periodicity and offset. Specifically, the RRCparameter monitoringSlotPeriodicityAndOffset indicates a PDCCHmonitoring periodicity of k_(s) slots and a PDCCH monitoring offset ofo_(s) slots. A UE can determine which slot is configured for PDCCHmonitoring according to the RRC parametermonitoringSlotPeriodicityAndOffset. The RRC parametermonitoringSymbolsWithinSlot is used to indicate a first symbol(s) forPDCCH monitoring in the slots configured for PDCCH monitoring. That is,the parameter monitoringSymbolsWithinSlot provides a PDCCH monitoringpattern within a slot, indicating first symbol(s) of the CORESET withina slot (configured slot) for PDCCH monitoring. The RRC parameterduration indicates a number of consecutive slots T_(s) that the searchspace lasts (or exists) in every occasion (PDCCH occasion, PDCCHmonitoring occasion).

The RRC parameter may include aggregationLevel1, aggregationLevel2,aggregationLevel4, aggregationLevel8, aggregationLevel16. The RRCparameter nrofCandidates may provide a number of PDCCH candidates perCCE aggregation level L by aggregationLevel1, aggregationLevel2,aggregationLevel4, aggregationLevel8, and aggregationLevel16, for CCEaggregation level 1, CCE aggregation level 2, CCE aggregation level 4,for CCE aggregation level 8, and CCE aggregation level 16, respectively.In other words, the value L can be set to either one in the set {1, 2,4, 8, 16}. The number of PDCCH candidates per CCE aggregation level Lcan be configured as 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 8. For example, in a casethe number of PDCCH candidates per CCE aggregation level L is configuredas 0, the UE may not search for PDCCH candidates for CCE aggregation L.That is, in this case, the UE may not monitor PDCCH candidates for CCEaggregation L of a search space set s. For example, the number of PDCCHcandidates per CCE aggregation level L is configured as 4, the UE maymonitor 4 PDCCH candidates for CCE aggregation level L of a search spaceset s.

The RRC parameter searchSpaceType is used to indicate that the searchspace set s is either a CSS set or a USS set. The RRC parametersearchSpaceType may include either a common or a ue-Specific. The RRCparameter common configure the search space set s as a CSS set and DCIformat to monitor. The RRC parameter ue-Specific configures the searchspace set s as a USS set. The RRC parameter ue-Specific may includedci-Formats. The RRC parameter dci-Formats indicates to monitor PDCCHcandidates either for DCI format 0_0 and DCI format 1_0, or for DCIformat 0_1 and DCI format 1_1 in search space set s. That is, the RRCparameter searchSpaceType indicates whether the search space set s is aCSS set or a USS set as well as DCI formats to monitor for.

A USS at CCE aggregation level L is defined by a set of PDCCH candidatesfor CCE aggregation L. A USS set may be constructed by a plurality ofUSS corresponding to respective CCE aggregation level L. A USS set mayinclude one or more USS(s) corresponding to respective CCE aggregationlevel L. A CSS at CCE aggregation level L is defined by a set of PDCCHcandidates for CCE aggregation L. A CSS set may be constructed by aplurality of USS corresponding to respective CCE aggregation level L. ACSS set may include one or more CSS(s) corresponding to respective CCEaggregation level L.

As above-mentioned, the PDCCH is used for transmitting or carryingDownlink Control Information (DCI). Thus, ‘PDCCH’ and ‘DCI (or DCIformat, or PDCCH candidates)’ are virtually interchangeable. In otherwords, ‘a UE monitors PDCCH’ implies ‘a UE monitors PDCCH for a DCIformat’. That is, ‘a UE monitors PDCCH’ implies ‘a UE monitors PDCCH fordetection of a configured DCI format’.

‘a UE monitors PDCCH’ can also refer to ‘a UE monitors PDCCH candidatesfor a DCI format’. Additionally, ‘a UE monitors PDCCH for a search spaceset s’ also refers to ‘a UE may monitor a set of PDCCH candidates of thesearch space set s’. To be specific, ‘a UE monitor PDCCH for a searchspace set s’ also refers to ‘a UE may attempt to decode each PDCCHcandidate of the search space set s according to the monitored DCIformats’.

In the present disclosure, the term “PDCCH search space sets” may alsorefer to “PDCCH search space”. A UE monitors PDCCH candidates in one ormore search space sets. A search space sets can be a common search space(CSS) set or a UE-specific search space (USS) set. In someimplementations, a CSS set may be shared/configured among multiple UEs.The multiple UEs may search PDCCH candidates in the CSS set. In someimplementations, a USS set is configured for a specific UE. The UE maysearch one or more PDCCH candidates in the USS set. In someimplementations, a USS set may be at least derived from a value ofC-RNTI addressed to a UE.

An illustration of CORESET configuration is described below.

A base station may configure a UE one or more CORESETs for each DL BWPin a serving cell. For example, a RRC parameter ControlResourceSetZerois used to configure CORESET 0 of an initial DL BWP. The RRC parameterControlResourceSetZero corresponds to 4 bits. The base station maytransmit ControlResourceSetZero, which may be included in MIB or RRCparameter ServingCellConfigCommon, to the UE. MIB may include the systeminformation transmitted on BCH(PBCH). A RRC parameter related to initialDL BWP configuration may also include the RRC parameterControlResourceSetZero. RRC parameter ServingCellConfigCommon is used toconfigure cell specific parameters of a UE's serving cell and containsparameters which a UE would typically acquire from SSB, MIB or SIBs whenaccessing the cell form IDLE.

Additionally, a RRC parameter ControlResourceSet is used to configure atime and frequency CORESET other than CORESET 0. The RRC parameterControlResourceSet may include a plurality of RRC parameters such as,ControlResourceSetId, frequencyDomainResource, duration,cce-REG-MappingType, precoderGranularity, tci-PresentInDCI,pdcch-DMRS-ScramblingID and so on.

Here, the RRC parameter ControlResourceSetId is an CORESET index p, usedto identify a CORESET within a serving cell, where 0<p<12. The RRCparameter duration indicates a number of consecutive symbols of theCORESET N_(symb) ^(CORESET), which can be configured as 1, 2 or 3symbols. A CORESET consists of a set of N_(RB) ^(CORESET) resourceblocks (RBs) in the frequency domain and N_(symb) ^(CORESET) symbols inthe time domain. The RRC parameter frequencyDomainResource indicates theset of N_(RB) ^(CORESET) RBs for the CORESET. Each bit in thefrequencyDomainResource corresponds a group of 6 RBs, with groupingstarting from the first RB group in the BWP. The first (left-most/mostsignificant) bit corresponds to the first RB group in the BWP, and soon. A bit that is set to 1 indicates that this RB group belongs to thefrequency domain resource of this CORESET.

According to the CORESET configuration, a CORESET (a CORESET 0 or aCORESET p) consists of a set of PRBs with a time duration of 1 to 3 OFDMsymbols. The resource units Resource Element Groups (REGs) and ControlChannel Elements (CCEs) are defined within a CORESET. A CCE consistingof 6 REGs where a REG equals one resource block during one OFDM symbol.Control channels are formed by aggregation of CCE. That is, a PDCCHconsists of one or more CCEs. Different code rates for the controlchannels are realized by aggregating different number of CCE.Interleaved and non-interleaved CCE-to-REG mapping are supported in aCORESET. Each resource element group carrying PDCCH carries its ownDMRS.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating one example 200 of REG and CCE resourcenumbering for a CORESET.

The UE 102 may monitor a set of PDCCH candidates for a search space setin a CORESET p which consist of a set of N_(RB) ^(CORESET) PRBs and onesets of N_(symb) ^(CORESET) consecutive OFDM symbols. The resourceblocks N_(RB) ^(CORESET) PRBs configured for the CORESET can becontiguous or can be not contiguous in the frequency domain. For theCORESET, the REGs within the CORESET are numbered in increasing order intime-first manner, starting with 0 for the first OFDM symbol and thelowest-numbered resource block in the CORESET. In FIG. 2, REGs withinthe CORESET are numbered in increasing order in time-first manner,starting with 0 for the first OFDM symbol and the lowest-numberedresource block in the 202. The REGs within the CORESET 202 are numberedby 0 to 35 by the time-first manner. The REGs for different PDCCHmonitoring occasion in a same CORESET are numbered by the same way. Thatis, one or more PDCCH monitoring occasions in a same CORESET may havesame REG mapping.

On the other hand, in the present disclosure, the OFDM symbolsconfigured for CORESET in time domain can be contiguous or can be notcontiguous. For example, the CORESET in time domain may consist of morethan one set of consecutive OFDM symbol(s). The number of consecutiveOFDM symbol(s) for each set can be same and may be indicated by one sameRRC parameter. Additionally, the number of consecutive OFDM symbol(s)for each set can be different and can be indicated by corresponding RRCparameters, respectively. These RRC parameters relating to the number ofconsecutive OFDM symbol(s) for each set can be included in the CORESETconfiguration and/or search space configuration. The CORESET for PDCCHmonitoring can cross one or multiple slots.

In FIG. 2, NCCE, N_(CCE, p) is the number of CCEs, numbered from 0 to(N_(CCE,p)−1), in the CORESET. The CORESET herein comprises of 6 CCEs.According to the CCE-to-REG mapping, UE 102 may determine a CCEcomprising of which corresponding REGs. For non-interleaved CCE-to-REGmapping, all CCEs for a DCI with AL L are mapped in consecutive REGbundles of the CORESET. For example, for non-interleaved CCE-to-REGmapping, a CCE with index 0 (CCE#0) 206 comprises of 6 consecutive REGswith 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. For interleaved CCE-to-REG mapping, REG bundlesconstituting the CCEs for a PDCCH are distributed in the frequencydomain in units of REG bundles. A REG bundle i is defined as REGs {i*B,i*B+1, . . . , i*B+B−1} where B is the REG bundle size indicated by thebase station.

The UE 102 can determine the CCE indexes for aggregation level Lcorresponding to PDCCH candidates of a USS for a USS set based on thevalue of C-RNTI addressed to the UE. The UE can determine the CCEindexes for aggregation level L corresponding to PDCCH candidates of aCSS for a CSS set without the value of C-RNTI addressed to the UE.

To be more specific, for a search space set s associated with CORESET p,the CCE indexes for aggregation level L corresponding to PDCCH candidatem_(s,n_CI) of the search space set in slot n for an active DL BWP of aserving cell corresponding to carrier indicator field value, CIF value,n_CI are given by Formula (4)L*((Y_(p,n)+floor((m_(s,n_CI)*N_(CCE, p))/(L*M_(s,max) ^((L))))+n_CI)mod(floor(N_(CCE, p)/L)))+i. The parameters in the Formula (4) areillustrated as below: for any CSS, Y_(p,n) is equal to 0, while for aUSS, Y_(p,n)=(A_(p)* Y_(p,n−1)) mod D where Y_(p,−1)=n_(RNTI)≠0,A_(p)=39827 for p mod 3=0, A_(p)=39829 for p mod 3=1, A_(p)=39839 for pmod 3=2, and D=65537; slot n can be denoted by n^(u) _(s,f) representingthe slot number within a radio frame with respect to the SCSconfiguration u; i=0, . . . , L−1; N_(CCE, p) is the number of CCEs,numbered from 0 to (N_(CCE, p)−1), in CORESET p; n_(RNTI) is an value ofC-RNTI provided by the base station for the UE; n_CI is the carrierindicator field value if the UE 102 is configured with a carrierindicator field for the serving cell on which PDCCH is monitored;otherwise, including for any CSS, the n_CI is equal to 0; m_(s,n_CI)=0,. . . , M_(s,n_CI) ^((L))−1, where M_(s,n_CI) ^((L)) is the number ofPDCCH candidates the UE is configured to monitor for aggregation level Lof the search space set s for a serving cell corresponding to n_CI; forany CSS, M_(s,max) ^((L))=M_(s,0) ^((L)); for a USS, M_(s,max) ^((L)) isthe maximum of M_(s,n_CI) ^((L)) over all configured n_CI values for aCCE aggregation level L of search space set s. m_(s,n_CI) is an index ofa PDCCH candidate the UE configured to monitor per aggregation level Lof the search space set s.

Here, in a CORESET associated with a search space set s, a set of CCEsfor AL L are those determining CCE indexes where the PDCCH candidates,the UE 102 is configured to monitor for ALL of the search space set, areplaced. Here, a set of CCEs for AL L can also refer to a USS. That is, asearch space sets may comprise of one or more corresponding sets of CCEsfor respective AL L. A set of CCEs can also refer to as ‘a USS’. A setof CCEs for ALL can also refer to ‘a USS at AL L’.

As above-mentioned, the UE 102 may receive, from the base station 160, aRRC message including one or more RRC parameters related to search spaceconfiguration. The UE 102 may determine PDCCH monitoring occasions forPDCCH candidates for each search space set s based on the received theRRC parameters. The UE 102 may monitor PDCCH candidates for each searchspace set s in the determined PDCCH monitoring occasions. For example, aRRC parameter (e.g. SearchSpace) may provide the UE 102 for a searchspace sets, that a PDCCH monitoring periodicity of k_(s) slots, a PDCCHmonitoring offset of o_(s)slots, a duration of T_(s), a PDCCH monitoringpattern within a slot, and so on.

In order to monitor a set of PDCCH candidates of a search space set, theUE may determine PDCCH monitoring occasions according to the searchspace set configuration and associated CORESET configuration. FIG. 3 isa diagram illustrating one example 300 how to determine PDCCH monitoringoccasions for PDCCH candidates based on corresponding search space setconfiguration and CORESET configuration.

In FIG. 3, the PDCCH monitoring periodicity k_(s) is configured as 6slots. The PDCCH monitoring offset o_(s) is configured as 2 slots. Theduration T_(s) is configured as 2 slots. The subcarrier spacingconfiguration u is configured as 0, which means the subcarrier spacingof the active DL BWP is 15 kHz. In this case u=0, N^(frame,u) _(slot) isequal to 10. That is, in a case u=0, the number of slots per frame is10. n^(u) _(s,f) is the slot number within a radio frame. That is, thevalue of n^(u) _(s,f) is in a range of {0, . . . , N^(frame,u)_(slot)−1}.

The UE 102 may determine a PDCCH monitoring occasion on an active DL BWPfrom the PDCCH monitoring periodicity, the PDCCH monitoring offset, andthe PDCCH monitoring pattern within a slot for each configured searchspace set s. For a search space set s, the UE 102, if the slot withnumber n^(u) _(s,f) satisfies Formula (1) (n_(f)*N^(frame,u)_(slot)+n^(u) _(s,f)−o_(s)) mod k_(s)=0, may determine that a PDCCHmonitoring occasion(s) exists in a slot with number n^(u) _(s,f) in aframe with number n_(f). According to Formula (1), the UE 102 maydetermine the slots with number n^(u) _(s,f)=2 and n^(u) _(s,f)=8 in aframe with number n_(f)=0 and the slot with number n^(u) _(sf)=4 in aframe with number n_(f)=1 as the slots in which the PDCCH monitoringoccasions exists. Given the T_(s) is configured as 2 slots, the UE 102may monitor PDCCH candidates for search space set s for T_(s)=2consecutive slots, staring from the determined the slots with numbern^(u) _(s,f). In other words, the UE 102 may not monitor PDCCHcandidates for search space set s for the next (k_(s)−T_(s)) consecutiveslots. As depicted in FIG. 3, the UE 102 may determine the slots withnumber n^(u) _(s,f)=2, 3, 8, and 9 in a frame with number n_(f·).=0 andthe slots with number n^(u) _(s,f)=4 and 5 in a frame with numbern_(f)=1 as the slots having PDCCH monitoring occasions. The UE 102 maymonitor PDCCH candidates for search space set s in the determined slotsconfigured for PDCCH monitoring. A slot having PDCCH monitoringoccasions may also refer to a slot configured for PDCCH monitoring.

Furthermore, a slot determined (or configured) for PDCCH monitoring mayhave one or more than one PDCCH monitoring occasions. PDCCH monitoringpattern within the slot configured for PDCCH monitoring is indicated bya 14-bits string (monitoringSymbolsWithinSlot). Each bit within the14-bits string may correspond to a symbol within a slot, respectively.The most significant (left) bit (MSB) may represent the first OFDM in aslot, and the second most significant (left) bit may represent thesecond OFDM symbol in a slot and so on. The bit(s) set to one mayidentify the first OFDM symbol(s) of the control resource set within aslot. As depicted in FIG. 3, a slot 302 configured for PDCCH monitoringmay have two PDCCH monitoring occasions. The first PDCCH monitoringoccasion 304 is located on the first, second and third consecutivesymbols. The second PDCCH monitoring occasion 306 is located on the8^(th), 9^(th), and 10^(th) consecutive OFDM symbols. The duration ofone PDCCH monitoring occasion is equal to the duration of a CORESETassociated with the search space sets. Generally, the duration of onePDCCH monitoring occasion (the number of the consecutive OFDM symbolsfor one PDCCH monitoring occasion) can be 1, 2 or 3 symbols. In the FIG.3, a CORESET comprises one PDCCH monitoring occasion with 3 consecutiveODM symbols in the time domain.

According to the FIG. 3, the UE may monitor a set of PDCCH candidatesfor the search space set s in the first PDCCH monitoring occasion 304 inthe associated CORESET and may further monitor a set of PDCCH candidatesfor the search space set s in the second PDCCH monitoring occasion 306in the CORESET in each slot in which the PDCCH monitoring is configuredfor the search space set s. Here, each PDCCH candidate for the searchspace set s is mapped in a resource of the associated CORESET in eachPDCCH monitoring occasion. In other words, one PDCCH candidate for thesearch space set s is mapped to one associated CORESET in one PDCCHmonitoring occasion. One PDCCH candidate for the search space set s isnot mapped to more than one associated CORESET in different PDCCHmonitoring occasions. For example, one PDCCH candidate for the searchspace set s is not mapped to both the first PDCCH monitoring occasion304 and the second PDCCH monitoring occasion 306.

For some new type UE which may have less reception antennas or reducedRF bandwidth compared to the Release 15/16 UE, some performance as likethe coverage, or the reliability of PDCCH reception would be affected.Solutions as like to repeat the PDCCH candidate transmission or toutilize more resource of a CORESET to map one PDCCH candidate would benecessary for improve the coverage for PDCCH transmission and the PDCCHreception reliability. PDCCH candidate repetition in different timedomain in a same CORESET, which also results in a lower code rate ofPDCCH reception, would be beneficial for the new type UE (with reducedcapability compared to the Release 15/16 UE) to achieve reliable PDCCHreception and enhance the coverage. For PDCCH candidate repetition, theUE would soft-combine the repeated PDCCH candidates and perform thechannel coding for the PDCCH candidate. Hereinafter, the new type UEwith reduced capability compared to the Release 15/16 UE can also referto as ‘RedCap UE’.

In various implementations of the present disclosure, ‘PDCCH repetition’refers to ‘a PDCCH candidate repetition’. ‘a PDCCH candidate’ hereinrefers to ‘a PDCCH candidate for a DCI format’. ‘a PDCCH candidaterepetition’ implies a PDCCH candidate with a same CCE aggregation levelL for a same DCI format of a same search space set s is repeated in oneor more PDCCH monitoring occasions in a same CORESET associated with thesearch space set s. Furthermore, ‘a PDCCH candidate is repeated’ means‘a PDCCH candidate with a same index m_(s,n_CI) is repeated’. That is,each PDCCH candidate for repetition may carry same downlink controlinformation (or, same payload size, same information bits). Furthermore,the CCE indexes corresponding to each PDCCH candidate for repetition aresame.

According to the FIG. 2, a CORESET in the time domain comprises one setof consecutive OFDM symbols (also referred as to one PDCCH monitoringoccasion in the time domain) with 1, 2 or 3 symbols. In the presentdisclosure, a UE may monitor a PDCCH candidate of a search space set ina set of one or more PDCCH monitoring occasions (one or more set ofconsecutive OFDM symbols) in a CORESET. These PDCCH monitoring occasionscan be consecutive or non-consecutive in the time domain.

In various implementations of the present disclosure, each PDCCHcandidate with a same index for a search space set s is repeated in oneor more PDCCH monitoring occasions in a (same) CORESET associated withthe search space set s. Furthermore, ‘one or more PDCCH monitoringoccasions in a (same) CORESET’ may refer to as ‘one or more PDCCHmonitoring occasions in one or more CORESETs with the same indexconfigured by RRC parameter related to CORESET configuration’. ‘one ormore PDCCH monitoring occasions in a (same) CORESET’ may be consideredsince one frequency domain resource is defined by an index of a CORESETconfiguration. However, since the CORESET configuration includes aduration of a CORESET and each of one or more PDCCH monitoring occasionshas the duration, ‘one or more PDCCH monitoring occasions in one or moreCORESETs with the same index configured by RRC parameter related toCORESET configuration’ may be appropriate in some case.

By repeating one PDCCH candidate (i.e. By repeating one PDCCH) in one ormore PDCCH monitoring occasions, more resource are used for transmissionof each PDCCH candidate and the soft-combination of the repeated PDCCHcandidate results in a lower code rating of the PDCCH, which eventuallyimprove the PDCCH reception reliability and coverage.

Each PDCCH for a first search space set is transmitted in one PDCCHmonitoring occasion and could be repeated in one or more PDCCHmonitoring occasions. The base station 160 may repeat each PDCCH in oneor more PDCCH monitoring occasions. The UE 102 may monitor each PDCCHrepeated in one ore more PDCCH monitoring occasions.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating one implementation of a method 600for determining PDCCH repetition and a starting slot of a PDSCHtransmission received by a UE 102.

In the implementation of the present disclosure, a UE 102 may receive602, from a base station 160, first information indicating a slot formatand second information indicating a maximum number of PDCCH repetitions.A slot format includes downlink symbols, uplink symbols, and flexiblesymbols. The first information indicates to the UE 102 a slot format pereach slot. The UE 102 may set the slot format per slot based on thefirst information. That is, the UE 102 may determine, based on the firstinformation, a set of symbols in per slot as downlink symbols, uplinksymbols, or flexible symbols. The base station 160 may determine theslot format per slot and generate the RRC parameters and/or DCI formatto indicate a slot format per slot to the UE 102. The UE 102 is providedthe second information by RRC parameters and/or DCI format. For example,for a set of symbols that are indicated to the UE 102 as uplink symbols,the UE 102 does not monitor a PDCCH repetition in a PDCCH monitoringoccasion which may overlap or partially overlap with the set of symbols.

Additionally or alternatively, besides indicating a slot format, thefirst information may also indicate invalid symbols to the UE 102. TheUE 102 may not perform DL reception and/or UL transmission in thoseindicated invalid symbols. For example, the UE 102 may not receive(monitor) a PDCCH repetition in a PDCCH monitoring occasion if at leastone symbol of the PDCCH monitoring occasion is indicated by the secondinformation as invalid symbols.

At 602, the UE 102 may monitor PDCCH repetitions based on the secondinformation for a first search space set in a first CORESET. The UE 102is configured with the first search space set and the first CORESET byrespective corresponding RRC parameter. The first CORESET is associatedwith the first search space set. Specifically, the UE 102 may receive aRRC parameter SearchSpace related to the first search space set. The RRCparameter SearchSpace defines how and where to search for PDCCHcandidates for a DCI format for the first search space set. The UE 102may be provided with e configured by respective corresponding RRCparameters ControlResourceSet. The UE 102 may receive a RRC parameterControlResourceSet related to the first CORESET. The RRC parameterControlResourceSet configures a time and frequency control resource setin which to search for downlink control information. Different CORESETsare configured by respective corresponding RRC parametersControlResourceSet.

The maximum number of PDCCH repetitions indicated by the secondinformation is a maximum repetition number that the UE is configured tomonitor PDCCH. In the present disclosure, a UE 102 may be provided onemaximum number of PDCCH repetition or more than one maximum number ofPDCCH repetition. If a maximum number of PDCCH repetition is applied torepetitions of a PDCCH transmission, the base station 160 may repeatedlytransmit a PDCCH candidate with a repetition number being equal to orless than the maximum number of PDCCH repetition. If a repetition numberof a PDCCH transmission reaches to the maximum number of PDCCHrepetition, the base station 160 may not further transmit the repetitionof the PDCCH transmission and the UE may not further monitor therepetition of the PDCCH transmission.

In an example, a UE 102 may be only provided one maximum number of PDCCHrepetition by the second information. That is, the maximum number ofPDCCH repetition is applied to one or more CORESETs configured to the UE102 by the corresponding one or more RRC parameters controlResourceSet.The maximum number of PDCCH repetition is a common number for PDCCHrepetition in the one or more configured CORESETs.

In an example, The UE may be provided more than one maximum numbers ofPDCCH repetition by the second information. In this case, the UE mayfurther determine, based on a received RRC parameter (or a DCI format),which one of the more than one maximum numbers of PDCCH repetition isapplied to the PDCCH repetitions for the first search space set.Furthermore, a RRC parameter included in the RRC parameter SearchSpacecan be used to directly indicate a maximum number of PDCCH repetition.Then the maximum number of PDCCH repetition is applied to PDCCHrepetition transmission for the search space set. Thus, according tothis way, different maximum numbers of PDCCH repetition can beconfigured for PDCCH repetition for different search space sets.Alternatively, a RRC parameter included in the RRC parameterControlResourceSet can be used to directly indicate a maximum number ofPDCCH repetition. Then the maximum number of PDCCH repetition is appliedto PDCCH repetition transmission in the CORESET. In other words, thesame maximum number of PDCCH repetition can be applied to one or moresearch space sets associated with the CORESET. Thus, according to thisway, different maximum numbers of PDCCH repetition can be configured forPDCCH repetition for different CORESETs.

Through this kind of indication by the RRC parameter, the base station160 is capable of configuring the UE 102 different maximum numbers ofPDCCH repetition for different search space sets or different CORESETs.

As above-mentioned at 602, the UE 102 is configured to monitor PDCCHrepetitions based on the second information for a first search space setin a first CORESET. To be specific, the UE 102 may determine, based onthe second information and the received RRC parameters (e.g. SearchSpaceand ControlResourceSet), PDCCH monitoring occasions configured for PDCCHrepetitions. For example, the UE 102 may first determine, based on thereceived RRC parameter SearchSpace and/or the RRC parameterControlResourceSet, a first PDCCH monitoring occasion configured for afirst one of repetitions of a PDCCH transmission. Then, the PDCCH (eachPDCCH candidate) is repeated in a set of consecutive PDCCH monitoringoccasions staring with the first PDCCH monitoring occasion. The totalnumber of the set of consecutive PDCCH monitoring occasions is equal toor less than the maximum number of PDCCH repetition. The determinationof PDCCH monitoring occasions for the first search space set isillustrated in the FIG. 3.

The UE 102 may 604 determine, based on the first information, whethereach configured PDCCH repetition of the PDCCH repetitions is transmittedor not. In other words, the UE 102 may determine, based on the firstformation, whether some PDCCH monitoring occasions in the set ofconsecutive PDCCH monitoring occasions can be used for reception ofPDCCH repetitions. To be specific, for each PDCCH monitoring occasion inthe set, the UE 102 may determine, based on the first information,whether the PDCCH monitoring occasion can be used for reception of PDCCHrepetition. That is, for each PDCCH repetition in the set of consecutivePDCCH monitoring occasions, the UE 102 may determine, based on the firstinformation, whether to omit monitoring a PDCCH repetition. For example,if at lease one symbol of a PDCCH monitoring occasion is indicated bythe first information as uplink symbol (or invalid symbol), the UE 102may determine the PDCCH monitoring occasion as an inapplicable PDCCHmonitoring occasion for reception of PDCCH repetition. For example, if aset of symbols of which a PDCCH monitoring occasion consists isindicated by the first information as downlink symbol (or valid symbol),the UE 102 may determine the PDCCH monitoring occasion as an applicablePDCCH monitoring occasion for reception of PDCCH repetition.

If the UE 102 determines a PDCCH monitoring occasion as an applicable(or valid) PDCCH monitoring occasion for reception of PDCCH repetition,the UE 102 may monitor PDCCH repetition in the PDCCH monitoringoccasion. If the UE 102 determines a PDCCH monitoring occasion as aninapplicable (or invalid) PDCCH monitoring occasion for reception ofPDCCH repetition, the UE 102 may not monitor (detect, or receive) PDCCHrepetition in the PDCCH monitoring occasion. The base station 160 maytransmit a PDCCH repetition in an applicable PDCCH monitoring occasionand may not transmit a PDCCH repetition in an inapplicable PDCCHmonitoring occasion.

FIG. 4 illustrates one example 400 for determining PDCCH repetition andPDSCH transmission by a UE 102.

In the FIG. 4, the UE 102 may determine the PDCCH monitoring occasionsfor the first search space set in the first CORESET as illustrated inthe FIG. 3. The determined PDCCH monitoring occasions are 401, 402, 403,404, 405, 406, 407, 408. The maximum number of PDCCH repetition for thefirst search space set herein is indicated to the UE as 6. The UE 102may further determine the PDCCH monitoring occasion 402 as the firstPDCCH monitoring occasion for PDCCH repetition. The UE 102 may assumethat the PDCCH is repeated in 6 consecutive PDCCH monitoring occasionsstarting with the first PDCCH monitoring occasion 402. That is, thePDCCH monitoring occasions 402, 403, 404, 405, 406, 407 are a set ofPDCCH monitoring occasions configured for PDCCH repetition. The set ofPDCCH monitoring occasions are used for reception of PDCCH repetitions.Based on the first information, the UE 102 may determine PDCCHmonitoring occasions 402, 404, 405, 406 as applicable PDCCH monitoringoccasions and determine PDCCH monitoring occasions 403, 407 asinapplicable PDCCH monitoring occasions. The base station 160 may repeateach PDCCH transmission in the PDCCH monitoring occasions 402, 404, 405,406 and may not repeat the PDCCH transmission in the PDCCH monitoringoccasions 403, 407. The UE 102 may attempt to monitor PDCCH repetitiontransmission in the PDCCH monitoring occasions 402, 404, 405, 406 andmay omit monitoring PDCCH repetition transmission in the PDCCHmonitoring occasions 403, 407.

In the implementation of the present disclosure, a UE 102 may notreceive the PDCCH repetitions in all applicable PDCCH monitoringoccasions in the set. That is, the UE 102 may be not necessary tosoft-combine all the PDCCH repetitions in the all applicable PDCCHmonitoring occasions in the set and then perform the decoding for thePDCCH.

In an example, the UE 102 may orderly perform decoding for each PDCCHrepetition in the set of PDCCH monitoring occasions. The UE 102 mayperform decoding the PDCCH repetition received in the first PDCCHmonitoring occasion in the set. If the UE 102 successfully decoded thePDCCH, the UE 102 may terminate the reception of the PDCCH repetition inthe subsequent PDCCH monitoring occasions in the set. If the UE 102 didnot successfully decode the PDCCH, the UE 102 may further receive aPDCCH repetition in a PDCCH monitoring occasion followed the first PDCCHmonitoring occasion. The UE 102 may soft-combine these two receivedPDCCH repetitions and perform decoding for the PDCCH. The UE 102 maycontinue to receive a PDCCH repetition in a PDCCH monitoring occasion inthe set and soft-combine it with previously received PDCCH repetitionsuntil the UE successfully decode the PDCCH. By this way, the UE mayearly decode the PDCCH.

At 604, upon detection of the PDCCH carrying downlink controlinformation (DCI), the UE 102 may decode the corresponding PDSCH asindicated by the DCI. The DCI includes third information indicating afirst number and forth information indicating timing of the PDSCH. Thefirst number is used to indicate to the UE 102 that the base station 160may transmit PDCCH repetitions in the first number PDCCH monitoringoccasions in the set and may not further transmit PDCCH repetitions inthe remaining PDCCH monitoring occasions in the set. In other words, thebase station 160 may repeat each PDCCH (each PDCCH candidate) across thefirst number consecutive PDCCH monitoring occasions in the set and maynot repeat each PDCCH in the remaining PDCCH monitoring occasions in theset. The first number consecutive PDCCH monitoring occasions may includeone or more applicable PDCCH monitoring occasions and zero, one or moreinapplicable PDCCH monitoring occasions. The UE 102 counts a PDCCHmonitoring occasions staring from the first PDCCH monitoring occasion inthe first number. For example, in the FIG. 4, the third informationindicates the first number as 4. The UE counts the PDCCH monitoringoccasions 402, 403, 404, 405 in the first number. However, the UE 102may monitor PDCCH repetitions in the PDCCH monitoring occasions 402,404, 405 and may not monitor PDCCH repetitions in other PDCCH monitoringoccasions in the set. The base station 160 may repeat PDCCH transmissionin the PDCCH monitoring occasions 402, 404, 405 and may not transmitPDCCH repetitions in other PDCCH monitoring occasions in the set. ThePDCCH monitoring occasion 405 is the last one PDCCH repetition of thePDCCH repetitions with the first number. The actual repetition number ofPDCCH transmitted by the base station 160 is equal to or less than thefirst number.

Additionally or alternatively, in some cases, the first number of thePDCCH monitoring occasions in the set may only include one or moreapplicable PDCCH monitoring occasions and may not include aninapplicable PDCCH monitoring occasion. The UE 102 counts a PDCCHmonitoring occasion in the first number when the PDCCH monitoringoccasion is an applicable PDCCH monitoring occasion and does not count aPDCCH monitoring occasion in the first number when the PDCCH monitoringoccasion is an inapplicable PDCCH monitoring occasion. For example, inthe FIG. 4, the third information indicates the first number as 4. TheUE counts the PDCCH monitoring occasions 402, 404, 405, 406 in the firstnumber. The UE 102 may monitor PDCCH repetitions in the PDCCH monitoringoccasions 402, 404, 405, 406 and may not monitor PDCCH repetitions inother PDCCH monitoring occasions in the set. The base station 160 mayrepeat PDCCH transmission in the PDCCH monitoring occasions 402, 404,405, 406 and may not transmit PDCCH repetitions in other PDCCHmonitoring occasions in the set. The PDCCH monitoring occasion 406 isthe last one PDCCH repetition of the PDCCH repetitions with the firstnumber. The actual repetition number of PDCCH transmitted by the basestation 160 is equal to the first number.

Additionally or alternatively, in some cases, the first number of thePDCCH monitoring occasions in the set may only include one or moreapplicable PDCCH monitoring occasions and may include zero, one or moreinapplicable PDCCH monitoring occasions which are determined asinapplicable PDCCH monitoring occasions based on the first informationprovided by RRC parameter. That is, the UE 102 does not count a PDCCHmonitoring occasion in the first number if the UE 102 determined thePDCCH monitoring occasion an inapplicable PDCCH monitoring occasionbased on the first information provided by the DCI format. For example,in the FIG. 4, the third information indicates the first number as 4. Ifthe PDCCH monitoring occasion 403 is determined as an inapplicable PDCCHmonitoring occasion based on the first information provided by RRCparameters, the UE counts the PDCCH monitoring occasions 402, 403, 404,405 in the first number. The PDCCH monitoring occasion 405 is the lastone PDCCH repetition of the PDCCH repetitions with the first number. Ifthe PDCCH monitoring occasion 403 is determined as an inapplicable PDCCHmonitoring occasion based on the first information provided by DCIformat, the UE counts the PDCCH monitoring occasions 402, 404, 405, 406in the first number. The PDCCH monitoring occasion 406 is the last onePDCCH repetition of the PDCCH repetitions with the first number. Theactual repetition number of PDCCH transmitted by the base station 160 isequal to or less than the first number.

Timing of PDSCH indicated by the forth information may be a slot offsetbetween a first slot and a starting slot of the scheduled PDSCH. If theDCI does not include the forth information, the UE may apply 0 as thevalue of the slot offset.

The UE 102 may 606 determine, based on the third information, a firstslot in which the last one PDCCH repetition of the PDCCH repetitionswith the first number is located. Herein, the first slot is determinedbased on the first number rather than the maximum number of PDCCHrepetition. According to the above-mentioned various cases, the basestation 160 may or may not transmit a PDCCH repetition in the last onePDCCH repetition of the PDCCH repetitions with the first number in thefirst slot. The UE 102 may or may not receive a PDCCH repetition in thelast one PDCCH repetition of the PDCCH repetitions with the first numberin the first slot.

In other words, as mentioned above, in some cases where last one PDCCHrepetition of the PDCCH repetitions with the first number is configuredto be monitored in an inapplicable PDCCH monitoring occasion, the UE 102may determine a subsequent PDCCH monitoring occasion in the set as thelast one PDCCH repetition of the PDCCH repetitions with the first numberwherein the subsequent PDCCH monitoring occasion is an applicable PDCCHmonitoring occasion. If the last one PDCCH repetition of the PDCCHrepetitions with the first number is already a last one PDCCH repetitionof the PDCCH repetitions with the maximum number of PDCCH repetition,the UE 102 may determine this one as the last one PDCCH repetition,regardless of whether the last one PDCCH repetition is configured to bemonitored in an applicable PDCCH monitoring occasion or an inapplicablePDCCH monitoring occasion.

The UE 102 may 608 determine a starting slot of a PDSCH transmissionbased on the forth information and the first slot. To be more specific,the slot allocated for the PDSCH transmission (i.e. the starting slot ofthe PDSCH transmission) is determined based on Formula (2)Floor(n*2^(μPDSCH)/2^(μPDCCH))+K₀, where the n is the first slot, K₀indicated by the forth information is a slot offset based on thenumerology of the PDSCH, and the μ_(PDSCH) and μ_(PDCCH) are thesubcarrier spacing configurations for PDSCH and PDCCH, respectively. K₀is a slot offset between the first slot and the starting slot of thePDSCH transmission.

The slot n may be the last slot with the scheduling DCI where thescheduling DCI is configured to be monitored. The scheduling DCI iscarried by the PDCCH repetition with the first number. In other words,the last slot is a slot where the last one PDCCH repetition of the PDCCHrepetitions with the first number is configured to be monitored.However, according to the above-mentioned various cases, the basestation 160 may or may not transmit the last one PDCCH repetition in thelast slot. The UE 102 may or may not receive the last one PDCCHrepetition in the last slot.

Additionally or alternatively, the slot n may be the last slot with thescheduling DCI where the scheduling DCI is transmitted. The schedulingDCI is carried by the PDCCH repetition with the first number. In otherwords, the last slot is a slot where the last one PDCCH repetition ofthe PDCCH repetitions with the first number is transmitted.

As illustrated in the FIG. 4, the starting slot where the PDSCH 408 isallocated is determined based on the forth information and the firstslot. The first slot is a slot in which the last one PDCCH repetition ofthe PDCCH repetitions with the first number is located. According to theabove-mentioned various cases, the first slot may be a slot in which thePDCCH monitoring occasion 405 (i.e. the last one PDCCH repetition of thePDCCH repetitions with the first number) is located. Alternatively,according to the above-mentioned various cases, the first slot may be aslot in which the PDCCH monitoring occasion 406 (i.e. the last one PDCCHrepetition of the PDCCH repetitions with the first number) is located.

In the implementation, the first number is indicated by the DCI. Thus,the base station 160 may, according to the UE's channel condition,adjust the value of the first number which can be lower than or equal tothe indicated maximum number of PDCCH repetition. The base station 160is not necessary to always transmit the PDCCH repetition with themaximum number of PDCCH repetition. The UE 102 may first assume a lowerrepetition number (e.g. 1) to receive the PDCCH repetitions. The UE 102may gradually increment the repetition number to further receive thePDCCH repetitions, then soft-combine the received PDCCH repetitions, andperform decoding until the UE 102 successfully decoded the PDCCH. Aftersuccessfully decoding the PDCCH, the UE 102 may determine the firstnumber indicated by the DCI. The base station 160 may terminate thePDCCH repetition transmission after the first number PDCCH repetitionseven if the indicated first number is lower than the maximum number ofPDCCH repetition. The UE 102 may terminate the reception of the PDCCHrepetition after successfully decoding the PDCCH and may skip monitoringthe remaining PDCCH repetition transmitted by the base station 160.

The UE 102 may assume a lower repetition number to monitor the PDCCHrepetitions in the lower repetition number of the consecutive PDCCHmonitoring occasions. Regarding the assumption of the lower repetitionnumber for PDCCH repetition monitoring, the UE 102 may attempt tomonitor the PDCCH repetition with the lower repetition number. However,for a PDCCH repetition configured to be monitored in an inapplicablePDCCH monitoring occasion, the UE 102 may omit monitoring the PDCCHrepetition.

Alternatively, the UE 102 may assume a lower repetition number tomonitor the PDCCH repetitions. The UE 102 may specify, based on theassumed lower repetition number and the first information, therepetition number of the PDCCH transmission configured to be monitoredin those applicable PDCCH monitoring occasions. That is, the UE 102 mayattempt to decode PDCCH repetitions configured to be monitored in thoseapplicable PDCCH monitoring occasions. The base station 160 may repeatthe PDCCH in those applicable PDCCH monitoring occasions. The UE 102 maymonitor these PDCCH repetitions transmitted in the applicable PDCCHmonitoring occasions.

An illustration of mapping of PDCCH repetition field values to a PDCCHrepetition number corresponding to a maximum number of PDCCH repetitionis described below. FIGS. 5A and SB illustrates same examples 500-1 and500-2 of mapping of PDCCH repetition field values to a PDCCH repetitionnumber corresponding to a maximum number of PDCCH repetition. In FIG. 5,the UE 102 is provided with two maximum numbers of PDCCH repetition as Xand Y. As above-mentioned, the UE 102 may determine either X or Y toapply to a PDCCH repetition.

The DCI includes third information indicating a first number. To be morespecific, a DC1 field included in the DCI indicates the first number.The DCI field values map to values of the first number, as defined inFIGS. 5A and 5B. FIG. 5A is an example of mapping for the DCI field of 1bit. FIG. 5B is an example of mapping for the DCI field of 2 bits.

In FIG. 5A, in a case where X is determined as the maximum number ofPDCCH repetition for PDCCH transmission, DCI field values ‘0’, ‘1’ mapto values of the first number X10, XII, respectively. The value of X10is less than the value of X11. The value of X11 is equal to or less thanthe value of X. In a case where Y is determined as the maximum number ofPDCCH repetition for PDCCH transmission, DCI field values ‘0’, ‘1’ mapto values of the first number Y10, Y11, respectively. The value of Y10is less than the value of Y11. The value of Y11 is equal to or less thanthe value of Y.

In FIG. 5B, in a case where X is determined as the maximum number ofPDCCH repetition for PDCCH transmission, DC1 field values ‘00’, ‘01’,‘10’, ‘11’ map to values of the first number X20, X21, X22, X23,respectively. The value of X20 is less than the value of X21. The valueof X21 is less than the value of X22. The value of X22 is less than thevalue of X23.The value of X23 can be equal to or less than the value ofX. In a case where Y is determined as the maximum number of PDCCHrepetition for PDCCH transmission, DCI field values ‘00’, ‘01’, ‘10’,‘11’ map to values of the first number Y20, Y21, Y22, Y23, respectively.The value of Y20 is less than the value of Y21. The value of Y21 is lessthan the value of Y22. The value of Y22 is less than the value of Y23.The value of Y23 can be equal to or less than the value of Y.

In a case where DC1 does not include third information indicating thefirst number, the UE 102 may determine that the maximum number of PDCCHrepetition is the first number. That is, the first number is indicatedby the above-mentioned second information.

FIG. 7 illustrates various components that may be utilized in a UE 702.The UE 702 (UE 102) described in connection with FIG. 7 may beimplemented in accordance with the UE 102 described in connection withFIG. 1. The UE 702 includes a processor 781 that controls operation ofthe UE 702. The processor 781 may also be referred to as a centralprocessing unit (CPU). Memory 787, which may include read-only memory(ROM), random access memory (RAM), a combination of the two or any typeof device that may store information, provides instructions 783 a anddata 785 a to the processor 781. A portion of the memory 787 may alsoinclude non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM). Instructions 783 band data 785 b may also reside in the processor 781. Instructions 783 band/or data 785 b loaded into the processor 781 may also includeinstructions 783 a and/or data 785 a from memory 787 that were loadedfor execution or processing by the processor 781. The instructions 783 bmay be executed by the processor 781 to implement one or more of themethods 200 described above.

The UE 702 may also include a housing that contains one or moretransmitters 758 and one or more receivers 720 to allow transmission andreception of data. The transmitter(s) 758 and receiver(s) 720 may becombined into one or more transceivers 718. One or more antennas 722 a-nare attached to the housing and electrically coupled to the transceiver718.

The various components of the UE 702 are coupled together by a bussystem 789, which may include a power bus, a control signal bus and astatus signal bus, in addition to a data bus. However, for the sake ofclarity, the various buses are illustrated in FIG. 7 as the bus system789. The UE 702 may also include a digital signal processor (DSP) 791for use in processing signals. The UE 702 may also include acommunications interface 793 that provides user access to the functionsof the UE 702. The UE 702 illustrated in FIG. 7 is a functional blockdiagram rather than a listing of specific components.

FIG. 8 illustrates various components that may be utilized in a basestation 860. The base station 860 described in connection with FIG. 8may be implemented in accordance with the base station 160 described inconnection with FIG. 1. The base station 860 includes a processor 881that controls operation of the base station 860. The processor 881 mayalso be referred to as a central processing unit (CPU). Memory 887,which may include read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), acombination of the two or any type of device that may store information,provides instructions 883 a and data 885 a to the processor 881. Aportion of the memory 887 may also include non-volatile random accessmemory (NVRAM). Instructions 883 b and data 885 b may also reside in theprocessor 881. Instructions 883 b and/or data 885 b loaded into theprocessor 881 may also include instructions 883 a and/or data 885 a frommemory 887 that were loaded for execution or processing by the processor881. The instructions 883 b may be executed by the processor 881 toimplement one or more of the methods 300 described above.

The base station 860 may also include a housing that contains one ormore transmitters 817 and one or more receivers 878 to allowtransmission and reception of data. The transmitter(s) 817 andreceiver(s) 878 may be combined into one or more transceivers 876. Oneor more antennas 880 a-n are attached to the housing and electricallycoupled to the transceiver 876.

The various components of the base station 860 are coupled together by abus system 889, which may include a power bus, a control signal bus anda status signal bus, in addition to a data bus. However, for the sake ofclarity, the various buses are illustrated in FIG. 8 as the bus system889. The base station 860 may also include a digital signal processor(DSP) 891 for use in processing signals. The base station 860 may alsoinclude a communications interface 893 that provides user access to thefunctions of the base station 860. The base station 860 illustrated inFIG. 8 is a functional block diagram rather than a listing of specificcomponents.

The term “computer-readable medium” refers to any available medium thatcan be accessed by a computer or a processor. The term“computer-readable medium,” as used herein, may denote a computer-and/or processor-readable medium that is non-transitory and tangible. Byway of example, and not limitation, a computer-readable orprocessor-readable medium may comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or otheroptical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storagedevices, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desiredprogram code in the form of instructions or data structures and that canbe accessed by a computer or processor. Disk and disc, as used herein,includes compact disc (CD), laser disc, optical disc, digital versatiledisc (DVD), floppy disk and Blu-ray® disc where disks usually reproducedata magnetically, while discs reproduce data optically with lasers.

It should be noted that one or more of the methods described herein maybe implemented in and/or performed using hardware. For example, one ormore of the methods described herein may be implemented in and/orrealized using circuitry, a chipset, an application-specific integratedcircuit (ASIC), a large-scale integrated circuit (LSI) or integratedcircuit, etc.

Each of the methods disclosed herein comprises one or more steps oractions for achieving the described method. The method steps and/oractions may be interchanged with one another and/or combined into asingle step without departing from the scope of the claims. In otherwords, unless a specific order of steps or actions is required forproper operation of the method that is being described, the order and/oruse of specific steps and/or actions may be modified without departingfrom the scope of the claims.

It is to be understood that the claims are not limited to the preciseconfiguration and components illustrated above. Various modifications,changes and variations may be made in the arrangement, operation anddetails of the systems, methods and apparatus described herein withoutdeparting from the scope of the claims.

1. A user equipment (UE), comprising: reception circuitry configured toreceive, from a base station, first information indicating a slot formatand second information indicating a maximum number of PDCCH repetition,and to monitor, based on the second information, PDCCH repetitions for afirst search space set in a first CORESET, and processing circuitryconfigured to determine, based on the first information, whether to omitmonitoring a PDCCH repetition for each PDCCH repetition among the PDCCHrepetitions, wherein Downlink Control Information (DCI) is carried bythe PDCCH repetition, the DCI schedules a PDSCH, and the DCI includesthird information indicating a first number and forth informationindicating timing of the PDSCH, and to determine, based on the thirdinformation, a first slot in which the last one PDCCH repetition of thePDCCH repetitions with the first number is located, and to determine astarting slot of a PDSCH transmission based on the forth information andthe first slot.
 2. The UE, of claim 1: the last one PDCCH repetition ofthe PDCCH repetitions with the first number is not received by the UE.3. A base station, comprising: transmission circuitry configured totransmit, to a user equipment (UE), first information indicating a slotformat and second information indicating a maximum number of PDCCHrepetition, processing circuitry configured to determine DownlinkControl information (DCI) wherein the DCI schedules a PDSCH, and the DCIincludes third information indicating a first number and forthinformation indicating timing of the PDSCH, and to determine, based onthe third information, a first slot in which the last one PDCCHrepetition of the PDCCH repetitions with the first number is located, todetermine a starting slot of a PDSCH transmission based on the forthinformation and the first slot, to determine, based on the firstinformation, whether to omit transmitting a PDCCH repetition for PDCCHrepetitions with the first number, transmission circuitry furtherconfigured to repeatedly transmit, to the UE, PDCCH transmission withthe first number for a first search space set in a first CORESET whereinthe PDCCH repetitions carried the DCI.
 4. The base station of claim 3:wherein the last one PDCCH repetition of the PDCCH repetitions with thefirst number is not transmitted by the base station,
 5. A method by auser equipment (UP), comprising: receiving, from a base station, firstinformation indicating a slot format and second information indicating amaximum number of PDCCH repetition, and monitoring, based on the secondinformation, PDCCH repetitions for a first search space set in a firstCORESET, and determining, based on the first information, whether toomit monitoring a PDCCH repetition for each PDCCH repetition among thePDCCH repetitions, wherein Downlink Control Information (DCI) is carriedby the PDCCH repetition, the DCI schedules a PDSCH, and the DO includesthird information indicating a first number and forth informationindicating timing of the PDSCH, determining, based on the thirdinformation, a first slot in which the last one PDCCH repetition of thePDCCH repetitions with the first number is located, and determining astarting slot of a PDSCH transmission based on the forth information andthe first slot.
 6. The method of claim 5: wherein the last one PDCCHrepetition of the PDCCH repetitions with the first number is notreceived by the UE.